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March 4, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: On Feb. 16 Alexi Navalny was martyred in a Russian prison north of the Arctic Circle; a day later the Ukrainian town Avdiivka fell to Putin’s invading army. The nexus binding these terrible events is Russian fascism fostered by Vladimir Putin. Russia now embodies fascism’s core elements: a glorified dictator; subordination of individuals to the state; repression of political opposition; state control of mass media, extreme nationalism, and expansive militarism.
Navalny’s murder removed Putin’s last remaining viable opposition politician inside Russia. Avdiivka fell after more than four moths of heroic resistance by outnumbered Ukrainians who inflicted thousands of Russian casualties. Tragically, the defense was undermined by a shortage of artillery shells with Ukraine reportedly firing one shell for every 10 the Russians fired.
The surviving citizens of Avdiivka now face the terror of Russian occupation. Without exception, the Russians have committed the full spectrum of war crimes wherever their boots lead them. Systematic murder of civilians; summary execution of POWs; torture; rape; mass deportations; statesponsored kidnapping of children; robbery, looting, arson, and property destruction are the hallmarks of Russian occupation. This litany of state sponsored criminality has only one analogue in modern European history — the Nazi terror during WWII.
What is particularly shameful for Americans is the fascist triumph in Avdiivka was enabled by the refusal of Republicans in the House of Representatives to vote on military assistance to Ukraine. Disgracefully, our representative, Ben Cline, is among these Republicans who are enabling fascist Russia to commit genocide in Ukraine.
With our aid Ukraine can win the war and a Russian defeat could spell the end of Putin’s fascist regime, potentially creating the political preconditions for a democratic society in Russia that Alexei Navalny dreamed of and died for.
Eighty years ago our “greatest generation” fought through North Africa, Italy, and Western Europe to bury fascism forever. Congressman Cline and his fellow “America first” Republicans are now betraying the democratic cause those brave American soldiers fought and died for. I implore all concerned voters in the Sixth Congressional District to contact Ben Cline’s office and urge him to support democratic Ukraine over fascist Russia. EDWARD GRIMES Rockbridge County
