CNN – CHAPMAN NEWS NETWORK
With apologies I have been ‘AFK’ for the last ten days due to a bad bout of man-flu. Do not worry I have gone all hip, I just accidentally picked up the phrase AFK – ‘away from keyboard’ – whilst miserably watching TV – The Big Bank Theory in this case.
So what news from the Eastern Front as the brave Ukrainians resist the illegal invasion of their homeland by Putin’s army of darkness. The key points I have been drawn to: -
- On the 23rd May the first Russian soldier was convicted of war crimes - A Ukrainian court has sentenced Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old Russian tank commander, to life in prison for killing Ukrainian Oleksandr Shelipov, 62, in the village of Chupakhivka, after being ordered to shoot him.
Let’s hope it is the first of many long sentences on these brutish criminals who have committed murder, rape and abuse on the civilian population of the Ukraine. For war crimes there should be just one sentence – Life, meaning life.
- The nephew of Russia’s deputy defence minister has been killed by Ukrainian forces in the war. Captain Adam Khamkhoyev, 30, a paratrooper commander, was buried in his native Ingushetia in Russia. His uncle Col-Gen Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, 58, a senior pro-war figure in Vladimir Putin’s government, attended the funeral in plain clothes.
Let’s hope that losing the family members of Putin’s inner circle will start to make those close to the main monster to consider the repercussions and a change of leadership
. Three months into Vladimir Putin’s bloody “special operation” in Ukraine, his own men in the Kremlin are discussing who will replace him according to new reporting by the independent news outlet Meduza, which cited several sources close to the Russian presidential administration. A number of Putin’s own allies within the Kremlin walls have reportedly floated the idea of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sunyani becoming his successor, or former President Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the deputy chairman of the Security Council. Sergei Kirienko, the first deputy chief of staff of the presidential administration, was also said to have been discussed as a contender.
Let’s hope they get on with it quickly and remove this new Stalin from the world stage. Stalin, during his reign of the old U.S.S.R., was an earlier lunatic tyrant who murdered over 20 million of his own people (not including those lost in the 2nd WW) to which it should be noted he killed 4 million Ukrainians on top. No wonder the Ukrainians are resisting the Russian invasion so vigorously to stop Putin doing the same thing.
- On Monday, Boris Bondarev, Russia's representative to the UN in Geneva, resigned in a scathing and dramatic letter that slammed the war in Ukraine, Russian oligarchs, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
To quote his letter, “"Never have I been as ashamed of my country as on February 24 this year," he wrote in a letter sent to diplomats on Monday, and shared by the non-profit organization UN Watch. His letter had numerous stinging comments about Russia's political elites and its foreign policy.
"Those who conceived this war want only one thing — to remain in power forever, to live in pompous tasteless palaces, sail on yachts comparable in tonnage and cost to the entire Russian navy, enjoying unlimited power and complete impunity," the letter read.
Let’s hope other Russian politicians, diplomats and military commanders are as brave as Boris Bondarev – he should get an award for bravery. Maybe he is like the boy who pointed out the Emperor’s new clothes were – non-existent! We must expose the demon that lingers beneath Putin’s human form!
- Poland said on Monday it had terminated its agreement with Russia to receive Russian gas via the Yamal pipeline, after Warsaw rejected a demand to pay for the fuel in roubles and Moscow responded by cutting off supplies in April.
Let’s hope all of Europe joins in a full embargo of Russia’s natural resources. We must strangle that financial pipeline so less funds are available for Russia’s military.
Sanctions News
- Experts say Russia's economy is "imploding" as exports to the sanctioned country fall. The exports from 20 countries to Russia were down -50% from the same time a year prior.
"We forecast a GDP collapse of -30% by end-2022," a chief economist at IIF wrote.
Russia's economy is collapsing as exports to the sanctioned country plummet in the face of President Vladimir Putin's ongoing, unprovoked war in Ukraine, trade experts confirm. The "economy is imploding. We forecast a GDP collapse of -30% by end-2022," Robin Brooks, the chief economist at the Institute of International Finance trade group announced on Sunday.
Lets consider this in detail - the most widely accepted definition of a recession is two consecutive quarters of declining GDP. According to a forecast by The Conference Board, U.S. real GDP growth will slow to 1.5% in the first quarter of 2022. Imagine how a 30% decline in one quarter will affect the ordinary Russian – it will be a disaster.
- The free world has begun to change – like the proverbial tanker changing direction in The Channel – so slow you can hardly notice yet it is in reality changing tack. Canadian politicians are drawing up legislation which they will present for approval at the Canadian Parliament for all oligarch assets that they seize should be immediately sold and the funds paid to the Ukrainians - bravo.
This may or may not get approval first time round in their Parliament but at least it is getting considered. If one serious country like Canada passes such legislation in line with our petition – I am not taking credit for their actions, my head is not that big – so then it will set a precedent and open the floodgates for all other free world countries to take similar action.
Arguments over ownership and future wrangling are immaterial if the law is changed – that is why a law is called a law.
- At long last at least one oligarch asset that has been seized has finally been liquidated. According to the news a new group of investors are taking Chelsea Football Club off Roman Abramovich’s grubby hands.
The brilliant news is that the money, circa £2.8 billion, will finally end up aiding the suffering Ukrainian nation via relief agencies designated by the UK government.
That is absolutely wonderful.
In some sense that is a hybrid of what we are trying to achieve with our petition. The good news it was seized, great news it was liquidated, brilliant news that the funds will go to the Ukraine. The bad news was that was only possible because Roman Abramovich had relinquished all claims on the proceeds and had said he would give it to the Ukrainians– so it was not because the legal system had changed but because he did the right thing.
SO WE MUST PUSH ON WITH OUR EFFORTS – HAVE THE LAWS CHANGED SO THESE ASSETS CAN BE SOLD AND THE MONIES GO TO SUPPORTING THE UKRANIANS IN THEIR TIME OF PERIL.
As always thanks for all your past efforts and gratitude for what you may do in the future.
Love to all you heroines and heroes.
Neil xx