'I condemn the leadership of Russia. We hid plans to unleash full scale war': Russian politicians who voted to recognise separatist enclaves in Ukraine now denounce Putin's full-scale invasion

Daily Mail ^ | 1 March 2022 | Jack Newman

[Textide]

Russian politicians who voted to recognise the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk are now saying they regret their decision and have condemned Vladimir Putin's invasion.

Dissent to the war is growing not only on the streets in Russia, with thousands arrested during protests, but also in parliament where dissent against the leader is rare.

Three members of the Communist Party, which typically remains loyal to Putin on key issues, have spoken out against the military action, saying they did not realise what they were voting for.

Vyacheslav Markhaev, a senator from Siberia, wrote on Facebook that Putin 'hid plans to unleash a full-scale war with our closest neighbour'.

His remarks follow two of his party colleagues who have denounced the invasion.

Oleg Smolen said he was 'shocked' by the invasion, saying: 'As a Russian intellectual, I am convinced that military force should be used in politics only as a last resort.

'I could not vote for the recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics without betraying myself.'

Mikhail Matveyev from Samara also called for the war to be stopped, saying in a now-deleted tweet: 'I voted for peace, not for war. For Russia to become a shield, so that Donbas is not bombed, and not for Kyiv to be bombed.'

Markhaev said members of Russia's Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly, did not know the vote would lead to a full-scale invasion.

He wrote: 'It is sad to watch what is happening around Ukraine, and it hurts the soul, imagining where our world and the whole world's contribution can go.

'We needed the recognition of the independence of the Republic of DPR and LPR to protect them from complete extinction. It was thought that this could be developed the possibility of continuing negotiations and finding new compromises....

[Textide]

[Textide]

[MplsSteve]

You have to wonder if these members of Parliament will end up paying a visit to Moscow’s version of Fort Marcy Park?

[Textide]

Vyacheslav Markhayev

Vyacheslav Markhayev - Wikipedia

[Textide]

Yeah. There are a few more repercussions to a Russian politician for calling things out than a US politician.

[1Old Pro]

Vyacheslav Markhaev, a senator from Siberia, wrote on Facebook that Putin 'hid plans to unleash a full-scale war with our closest neighbour'.

Well he's already there, I guess the next step is to hand him a pick axe.

[rrrod]

Putin’s days are numbered.

[shotgun]

“Vyacheslav Markhaev, a senator from Siberia, “

What is Putin going to do to him? Send him back to Siberia?

[Bobalu]

[tlozo]

Three members of the Duma assembly have denounced Vladimir Putin's invasion

Tomorrow three members of the Duma assembly retire, for health reasons

[Textide]

Mikhail Matveyev

[dfwgator]

Well they might want to hurry it up. It's been done before....

[skeeter]

This is the way to attack this problem - isolate Putin and his stooges.

[ETCM]

There are a few more repercussions to a Russian politician for calling things out than a US politician.

Getting "canceled" in Russia is a little more serious than most places. Maybe not quite as bad as in North Korea, but still...

[rbmillerjr]

Dang, dissidents in Pout’n Putin’s own Duma.

Now, that is a shocker.

[Textide]

Indeed.

[dfwgator]

[Textide]

I zoomed way in, but could make it out. What does the sign say and who is it?

[technically right]

Three out of 450 members of the Duma. Meh.