Mikhail Baryshnikov: Russians must know what Putin is doing in their name

The dance legend is getting involved in an information campaign.

Here’s what he has posted:

UKRAINIANS FIGHT FOR ALL OF US
Soon it will be fifty years that I no longer live in Russia: I spent all these years of my life in a free society, but I grew up in Latvia, the son of a Russian official who was once the Urss. My family took part in an occupation. Despite this, even occupied Latvia was more open and European than Russia then. As a result, I am a product of Europe, Russia and, of course, the United States. For what it’s worth, my thoughts are influenced by this triple optics.
From the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine I have experienced a huge disappointment and the certainty that it would have been a bloody and tremendous conflict. I immediately understood that this offensive by the Russian army would have been more destabilizing than the “anniversary” of Crimea and the separatist uprising in the Donbass region. Ukrainians have always been friends, neighbors, family members – and still are. The relationship between the Russian people and the Ukrainian people is a fluid relationship between languages, cultures and borders. The two countries are extraordinarily interconnected between each other, but in awareness and appreciation of subtle cultural differences
I just can’t understand how some people can trust and follow leaders like Putin, despite the Russians themselves suffered, throughout History, from submission to brutal and oppressive regimes. I just can’t explain how it got to this point; probably dozens of books will be written on this topic. Let’s not forget, however, that even in a free and democratic society where I live a shocking percentage of Americans seem to believe in contradictory theories about an election that is believed to have been “stolen” in 2020. This teaches us that ignorance of History and nationalist fervor are not exclusive to any country.
In any case, I refuse to make all the Russians a bunch. I think Putin resonated with those who are afraid. I assume that this gives them a sense of security, just like the authoritarian leadership makes their people believe in protecting them. Of course, it is a fictitious feeling of security because at any time the protection can become a persecuted.
On my part, I cannot influence politics or throw Molotov bottles, nor am I competent at the point of giving advice or opinions on the aid that the United States, NATO and Europe may or should send to the Ukrainians. The least I can do, however, is to help as many refugees as possible.
For this reason, I feel honored to have been invited by my friends, writer Boris Akunin and economist Sergueï Guriev, to participate in the launch of the “True Russia” fund (truerussia.org). Ignore if Russian citizens will see this rescue I know humanitarian, but the magic of cyberspace makes everything possible. They must know what Putin is doing in their name.
I wouldn’t be a fighter much but, when the Ukrainians have won, it will be an honor for me to go and thank them for how they fought. Truthfully, they aren’t just fighting for themselves; they are fighting for all of us, who believe in free and open societies. ”