Akunin, Baryshnikov and Guriev announced a charity fundraising in support of Ukraine

Over the past few weeks, the world has been watching with horror the military actions in Ukraine, which were launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite prevailing opinion and Russian propaganda, millions of Russians condemn his decision. Afisha.London magazine tells about the charitable initiative of Boris Akunin, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Sergey Guriev.

Writer Boris Akunin, actor Mikhail Baryshnikov and economist Sergei Guriev* wrote an open letter to Russians living all over the world — those who consider themselves part of Russian culture and speak Russian. Their statement refers to those Russians who are protesting against aggression: thousands of people were arrested, tens of thousands fled the country, millions react to the war unleashed by the Russian president with anger and condemnation.

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Together, cultural and business figures announced a charity fundraising, which was called True Russia. True Russia is a humanitarian project which aims to raise funds to help refugees from Ukraine. All donated money will be sent to the Disasters Emergency Committee, which brings together funds that help the Ukrainian people.

“We may be powerless to stop this nightmare, but we do not have the right to remain idle. The very least we can do is help the people fleeing from the horror that Putin has started in Russia’s name. Let us prove to the rest of the world that Putin does not speak and act for all Russians.”— says the open letter.

 

You can read the full text of the open letter and donate money on the project website.

*Boris Akunin is a Russian-Georgian writer, essayist and literary translator, best known as writer of detective and historical fiction, including Erast Fandorin series.

Mikhail Baryshnikov is a Soviet Latvian-born Russian-American dancer, choreographer, and actor.

Sergey Guriyev is a Russian economist, a professor of economics at the Instituts d’études politiques in Paris (Sciences Po).

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