The art community of Russia opposed the war

More than two thousand Russian cultural and art workers-artists, curators, architects, critics, art historians, art managers-signed an open letter against the war with Ukraine.

The letter was placed by the webzin Spectate , the collection of signatures continues here . Colta.ru gives the text of the letter completely:

Open letter of Russian cultural and art workers against the war with Ukraine

We, artists, curators, architects, critics, art historians, art managers-representatives of the culture and art of the Russian Federation-initiated and sign this open letter, which we consider insufficient, but the necessary action on the way to the world between Russia and Ukraine.

On February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation began a sudden, aggressive and open military offensive throughout Ukraine. The reason for him was “Protection of the inhabitants of the DPR and LPR”, while military actions are carried out throughout Ukraine and in its large cities: Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkov, Odessa and others. Among the inhabitants of these cities are a large number of our relatives, friends, acquaintances and colleagues. We demand to stop this war of the war with Ukraine - a sovereign and independent state - and start negotiations with it on respectful and equal grounds.

The war in Ukraine is a terrible tragedy for both Ukrainians and Russians. It attracts huge human sacrifices, puts economics and security, leads our country to complete international isolation. At the same time, it is absolutely meaningless - any coercion to the world with the help of violence is absurd. The pretext under which the deployment of the “special operation” took place is entirely designed by representatives of the Russian authorities, and we are opposed to this war to be fed on our behalf.

Now, first of all, we are worried about the fate of Ukrainians, their life and security!

However, on behalf of the professional community, it is also important for us to say that the further escalation of the war will turn into irreparable consequences for art and culture workers. This will take the latest opportunities from us to fully work, express, create projects, popularize and develop culture, take the future. Everything that has been done culturally over the past 30 years has been impacted today: all international ties will be broken, cultural private or state institutions will be mothballed, partnerships with other countries will be suspended. All this will destroy the already fragile economy of Russian culture and will significantly reduce its significance for both Russian society and the international community as a whole. It will be almost impossible to engage in culture and art in such conditions.

We, artists, curators, architects, critics, art historians, art managers-representatives of culture and art of the Russian Federation-express our absolute solidarity with the inhabitants of Ukraine and say the decisive “no war!”. We demand an immediate stop of all military operations, the withdrawal of troops from the territory of Ukraine and conduct peace negotiations.

The call to stop the war was made by Russian artists, architects, designers, art historians, historians, museum employees, archives and libraries, art collectors. Their appeal to Russian citizens was published on Facebook by architect Evgeny Assa.

Hundreds of Russian animators signed an open letter in connection with a military campaign against Ukraine.

By 12:30 Moscow time, on February 26, more than 675,000 signatures collected an anti -war petition on Change.org .

PS The editors of Colta.ru received an open letter of children's literature workers:

Mr. President. Gentlemen, deputies, ministers, senators, we turn to you because you are responsible for this war.

On February 24, 2022, the Russian armed forces invaded the territory of Ukraine. This is not a peacekeeping operation, as you call it, this is a war.

We, citizens of the Russian Federation, children's writers, publishers, translators, illustrators, critics, librarians, teachers demand to stop this military operation, this war against Ukraine.

We work for children, both poets and writers know how to tell and write about the war, about its horrors and grief. But we do not want and will not talk about a special operation - because it is a war.

Children's literature speaks with children about the future, prepares them for a worthy adult life. We cannot and do not want to talk to them about the life that you offer them. Having tied Russia in this war, you are depriving the future children of your country. We demand to immediately withdraw our troops from the territory of Ukraine.

Alexey Oleinikov, children's writer, poet, writer, teacher of literature
Olga Drobot, translator
Nina Dashevskaya, writer
Maria Boteva, writer
Vitaliy Zyuko, publisher
Asya Kravchenko, writer
Natalia Volkova, children's writer, translator, teacher
Natalia Savushkina, writer, literary critic, teacher
Marina Kadetova, editor
Alexey Kopeikin, critic, bibliographer, editor
Irina Balakhonova, publisher
Tamara Mikheeva, children's writer
Anna Ignatova, children's writer, teacher
Olga Kolpakova, writer, journalist
Dmitry Gasin, poet
Ksenia Kovalenko, publisher
Aya En (Aya Kostyeva), children's writer, editor
Tim Yarzhombek, illustrator
Olga Warsaver, translator, playwright
Ksenia Timenchik, translator, teacher
Maria Lyudkovskaya, translator
Marina Boroditskaya, children's writer, poet, translator
Natalia Tumashkova, psychologist and children's writer
Olga Gurevich, translator
Anna Dolizhery, writer
Elena Lenson, translator
Natalia Mavelvich, translator
Elena Baibikova, translator
Olga Bukhina, translator, specialist in children's literature
Nadezhda Kruchenitskaya, publisher
Anna Shur, leading the book podcast "Expecto Patronus"
Anna Sidorova, translator
Irina Bogatyreva, writer, folklorist
Natalia Yaskina, illustrator
Irina Lukyanova, journalist, teacher, writer
Natalia Klyuchava, writer
Elena Litvyak (Semerikova), children's writer, historian
Nikolai Ponomarev, writer
Dina Sabitova, children's writer