‘Putin is a man of peace’

WHILE most of the world has been condemning Russia, the former president of South Africa, has come out in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin for standing up for his country’s sovereignty.

In a statement, issued through the Jacob G Zuma Foundation, the former president said he wanted to exercise his constitutionally enshrined right to freedom of expression, and share his thoughts on developments in Russia and Ukraine.

“The impasse has by default also exposed the hypocrisy of what has become the conventional wisdom which always favours the Western forces including their bullying tendencies and their insatiable appetite to dominate others whilst clandestinely furthering their own agendas and interest,” said Zuma.

He said Putin had been clear in his opposition to the eastern expansion of the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) into Ukraine.

Zuma said Putin was on record about the military threat posed to Russia by the presence of these forces – if it was allowed to be on his (Putin's) doorstep.

He said Russia felt provoked and its actions were justified. Zuma said Putin’s action differed greatly in comparison to what other big powers have done when faced with such situations.

“Some Western powers who are today acting holier than thou, have invaded a number of small countries in the world. (For example) Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya to name but a few. These glaring examples of interference have left those countries in ruins.

"The western countries' and their acolytes’ support of Ukraine (under the guise of defending the sovereignty and democracy in Ukraine) is a selfish act to further their own interests at the expense of innocent lives and property of Ukraine."

Zuma said there have been attacks on some member countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS).

He said in South Africa, he was removed before his term ended. He said his arrest on July 7, 2021, for contempt of court, was unlawful as he was incarcerated without trial, and he was denied a right to appeal the Constitutional Court judgment and sentencing.

He said he knew Putin to be a man of peace.

" . . . (He has) worked hard to ensure peace and stability in the globe."

South Africa recently abstained from voting on the UN General Assembly's motion to reprimand Russia's invasion of Ukraine. |