Appeal to the West

Kremlin critic warns: Putin “only understands violence”

Russian President Vladimir Putin(Bild: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Former world chess champion and Kremlin critic Garry Kasparov is currently desperately calling for the West to take much tougher action against the aggressor Russia and the brutal bloodshed in Ukraine. Unfortunately, Moscow only understands violence, he soberly concludes.

In view of the "terrorist Russian regime, which only understands violence", Kiev is still dependent on help, Kasparov, who lives in exile, said in an interview with the AFP news agency in Washington. The West refuses to say clearly that "Ukraine must win", he criticized. In the interview, Kasparov also appealed to the West to involve the Russian opposition in the fight against Putin's aggression.

Kasparov was one of the greatest chess players of all time before he became a bitter opponent of Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin. Fearing prosecution, he left Russia in 2013 and moved to the USA, from where he continues to oppose the Kremlin and the war against Ukraine. In 2022, the Russian authorities declared Kasparov a "foreign agent", and last week they placed him on their list of "terrorists and extremists".

Putin responsible for Navalny's death
Kasparov blames the Kremlin for the death of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who died in a Russian prison camp in the Arctic Circle in February. "Navalny's murder is a new milestone" in repression, said Kasparov.

He also called for greater involvement of the Russian opposition in the fight against Putin. "To defeat Putinism, there must be a coalition with a Russian component," said Kasparov. "The people who are prepared to say: the regime is illegitimate, the war is criminal, Crimea is Ukrainian, must take part in this fight," he demanded.

Future plan for the Russian opposition
According to Kasparov, he is working with other Kremlin critics to develop a future plan for the Russian opposition. Most of the dissidents who remained in Russia are now imprisoned or dead - the rest live in exile and many opposition members are at odds with each other. Kasparov and Navalny's team have also clashed in the past.

Every weakness shown by the West is an invitation to Putin to become even more aggressive.

Garri Kasparow

The latest dispute among Putin's opponents is about the protest during the Russian presidential election from Friday to Sunday. Putin's victory is beyond doubt due to the lack of serious opponents and the feared influence of the Kremlin.

Western countries should take in Russian opponents of the war
Western countries should take in Russian opponents of the war, Kasparov demanded. "Give them a chance to change sides." If, for example, programmers and engineers involved in the production of drones and other weapons could leave Russia, "that would severely impair Putin's ability to wage war".

Kasparov expressed his disappointment at the West's dwindling support for Ukraine. While the Ukrainian army is struggling to maintain resistance, the Republican opposition in the US Congress is blocking crucial aid, he said. "Every weakness shown by the West is an invitation to Putin to become even more aggressive," he said.

Sanctions have had little effect
According to the former chess player, the sanctions against Russia have had little effect. Kasparov called for more money for Ukraine, including from confiscated Russian assets, as well as long-range missiles.

AFP conducted the interview on the sidelines of a meeting of the World Liberty Congress, an association of democracy activists from 60 countries. "From Russia to Venezuela, from China to Africa, all authoritarian regimes and dictators are working together and voting for each other at the United Nations," said US-based Iranian opposition figure Masih Alinejad, president of the World Liberty Congress. "As the bad guys stand together, it's time for the good people from authoritarian regimes to unite to spread our idea of democracy, dignity and freedom."

Founded last year, the organization is committed to non-violent opposition and supports activists on the ground as well as political prisoners and their families. Kasparov is Vice President of the World Liberty Congress. "We are indispensable allies for the leaders of the free world," he said.