The Mayor of Stroud, Kevin Cranston, said the invasion of Ukraine was “completely without justification” and predicted that if Putin gets away with it he will progress to trying to take more areas into Russian control.

“We need really harsh and strong sanctions right now – to cut off Russia completely and make Putin realise what he’s doing Is not acceptable, even to his own supporters,” said Cllr Cranston.

He urged the crowd in Stroud High Street to write to MP Siobhan Baillie and to the prime minister, calling for immediate sanctions to send out a message of solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

Green district councillor Beki Aldam said: “Putin is a poison that has already spread through the veins of Europe. He needs to be stopped. Spare a thought for protesters in Russia who have been arrested in their thousands and face treason charges for saying no to war.”

She called for the UK government to follow the example of Ireland in waiving all visa requirements to allow Ukrainians to come here.

Event organiser Adrian Oldman (Stroud Green Party co-coordinator and a Stroud Town councillor), told the crowd: “We may feel powerless but the optimism of the action is better than the pessimism of the thought. Please write to your MP and to the prime minister. Please show solidarity with people thousands of miles away in whatever way you feel you can, and show that Stroud cares.”

The crowd also heard from Labour district councillor Robin Layfield and from a resident who once lived in Ukraine and Russia, and who has a love for both countries and their people.  The event concluded with the crowd joining in a song of peace performed by JJ, a local musician. 

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Concerned residents of all political persuasions or none are invited to gather near the junction of High Street and Kendrick Street and to bring banners or placards expressing their feelings about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Organiser Cllr Adrian Oldman, co-coordinator of Stroud District Green Party, who is a Stroud Town councillor, said: “At this dark time, many of us in Stroud will want to show our support for and solidarity with the people of Ukraine, both those living there, and those living locally in Stroud and the rest of Gloucestershire.

Cllr Oldman said thousands of protestors had been arrested in Russia at demonstrations against President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. “Anti-war protest by ordinary Russians is being stamped out by a regime that has powers akin to those proposed by our own government; the situation there is like our own Police & Crime Bill on steroids.”

Separately, St Laurence’s church will be open from 10.30 to 12.30pm tomorrow as a quiet space for prayer, reflection, meditation and contemplation on behalf of the people of Ukraine, and for peace in the world. Everyone of any faith or none is invited to come together as a community at this difficult time.

The Green Party has called for immediate and stringent sanctions on Russia, including an import and export ban and the freezing of bank accounts of people linked to the Russian regime – and for help for Ukrainian nationals to seek asylum in the UK.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said: “We deplore the invasion of Ukraine and condemn the unprovoked aggression against a sovereign nation. This unprovoked and unjustified invasion of a European country will have a devastating impact on the lives of millions of innocent people.

“The response from the UK has so far been wholly inadequate. We urge the government to immediately impose the strongest of sanctions on Russian economic interests, end once and for all the influence of Russian money in our democracy and launch an investigation into Russian interference in our elections.”

Photo by Duncan Kidd on Unsplash

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