A petition created on Saturday 26th on Facebook has already gained more than a hundred signatures, despite restrictions on social network traffic.
Some of the signatories were arrested during protests in Moscow and elsewhere
Open letter to V.V. Putin:
We, Russian sommeliers, wine trade and restaurant industry workers, strongly oppose the military actions carried out by the Russian armed forces on the territory of Ukraine.
We are people who make and sell wines from different countries, we speak many languages and we consider ourselves, Ukrainians and Europeans as our friends and brothers who bring the wine culture around the world. There is not a single person among us who would benefit from bloodshed.
We love and promote Russian wine worldwide, we want wine to unite the people of the world, we don't want Russian wines to be associated with war.
We cannot remain aloof from the pain that is growing by the minute.
We demand the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and an end to the senseless bloodshed and the return of Russia to the negotiating table.
This letter is open for signature by all Russian wine professionals.
#NoWar
Sommelier Evgeny Kotelevskiy at the Thursday protest in Moscow
