British Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a video address today in which he addressed the Russian people directly, telling them that he deserved the truth about the invasion of Ukraine.
“The Russian people deserve the truth, you deserve the facts,” Johnson said, speaking in Russian at the start of a nearly two-minute address before returning to English.
The British leader said that reports of atrocities allegedly committed by Russian forces from Ukraine were “so shocking, so disgusting, that it is no wonder that your government is trying to hide them from you”.
To the Russian people, look at what is being done in your name.
You deserve the truth. You deserve the facts. pic.twitter.com/sqDxvGnTnp
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 5, 2022
“Your president knows that if you could see what was happening, you would not support his war,” Johnson added, referring to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
He concluded the video, which was posted on the British government’s Twitter and other social media channels, spoke in Russian again and said Putin had been charged with war crimes.
“But I can’t believe he’s acting on your behalf,” the UK leader added.
Johnson’s address comes at a time of unprecedented repression in Russia against dissidents and independent journalism, as the Kremlin tightly controls information about its invasion of Ukraine. This includes declaring NGOs and the media “foreign agents” – a label that carries a strong pejorative connotation and implies increased government control.
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