More than 30 Russian city deputies have signed a petition calling for the resignation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
the petition, Posted by Xenia Torstrem, deputy in the Simeonovsky district of St. Petersburg, was originally signed by 19 officials.
“We, municipal deputies of Russia, believe that the actions of President Vladimir Putin are detrimental to the future of Russia and its citizens,” the petition reads. “We demand the resignation of Vladimir Putin from the post of President of the Russian Federation!”
The petition comes on behalf of the Ukrainian army Going on a counterattackquickly regaining territory and pushing Russian forces to the northeastern frontier in some places.
The initial push gains have drawn some criticism of Putin inside the country, a rare rebuke to Russia’s longtime leader who has sought over the years to suppress dissent.
The petition was signed mainly by municipal deputies working in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, although the signatories also include officials from cities such as Samara and Yakutsk.
Comes after Russia at the weekend Held the first elections in the country since the beginning of the war. Voters cast their ballots to elect more than 31,000 officials nationwide, although the Kremlin’s opposition did Alleged fraud and vote manipulation.
The petition is likely to endanger municipal deputies, given the Kremlin law that criminalizes the dissemination of “false news” about the war, which Putin refers to as a “special military operation.”
Perpetrators face up to 15 years in prison, Russian officials face Punishment of dissidents Since the troops invaded Ukraine in February.
But as Russia faces new losses from the Ukrainian counterattack, some Russian military bloggers and patriotic commentators have been exposed Criticize the Kremlin for its failure to take stronger action.
“The people who convinced President Putin that the process would be fast and efficient … these people are the ones who founded us all,” former Russian parliament member Boris Nadezhdin told state-owned broadcaster NTV.
The counterattack also raised Ukraine’s morale, but it remains unclear whether the operation will mark a turning point in the conflict.
“The path to victory is difficult,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his message. Daily address Sunday.
“But we are sure: you are capable of it,” he continued. You will reach our borders in all its sections. You will see our borders and the appearance of enemies. You will see the eyes of our people shine and the heels of the occupiers. They’ll call them “goodwill signals.” We’ll call it a victory.”
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