Letter to Mr. António Guterres UN Secretary General
His Excellency Mr. António Guterres
Secretary-General
United Nations
New York, NY 10017
Your Excellency,
In the past few days, the world has witnessed the Russian Federation's military aggression against Ukraine, a sovereign state that acquired its full independence under international law almost thirty years ago, in 1991. Ukraine has mounted a laudable resistance in the face of this aggression. Far from getting crushed in silence under the boot of aggressors, their resistance is a call on the world to rush to their defense. As a woman who has lived in a country that endured 8 years of war, I can imagine the fear and trauma unleashed from this naked act of aggression and war against defenseless civilians and wish to express my horror at such a shameless violation. This is a war between democracy and dictatorship, but, fortunately, the people of Ukraine are not standing alone in this struggle and the world is rushing to Ukraine's defense with great concern.
In this war, Russian protestors who are also paying the price of hostilities are being attacked and people like Alexei Navalni, who is recognized as an effective protestor is also in prison. At the same time, the world's collective memory recalls that Hitler's "iron will" was broken by the collective will of world public opinion.
I heard your commendable statements in "the name of humanity" at the onset of Putin's assault and consider them as the most laudable of your declarations. Sadly, the aggressors has not heeded your call on this issue. He did not count on the nobility, freedom loving and independent spirit of the people of Ukraine and the world.
Like millions of other people around the world, I too am shocked by this vulgar act of aggression. I stand in solidarity and support of the people of Ukraine and declare that world peace without opposition to Russia's aggression and support for the people of Ukraine is meaningless. As such, I ask your Excellency to use all the international instruments and resources at your disposal to bring an end to this naked act of aggression.
In the hope of an end to all wars,
Nasrin Sotoudeh
Tehran, Iran
March 1, 2022
