OSLO –People in positions of power in Russia are actively promoting the idea of war, and conflict with Ukraine is now distinctly possible, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov said on Friday. Receiving his award at Oslo City Hall, Muratov said it was common in Russia to think that politicians who avoided bloodshed were weak, while threatening war was “the duty of true patriots”. “Moreover, in (the) heads of some crazy geopoliticians, a war between Russia and Ukraine is not something impossible any longer.”READ: Russia planning Ukraine offensive with up to 175,000 troops — news reportsU.S. officials have said Russia could soon invade Ukraine following a build-up of troops near the Ukrainian border. Muratov also said journalism in Russia was going “through a dark valley”, with over a hundred journalists, media outlets, human rights defenders and non-governmental organisations having been branded as foreign agents. “By giving this to journalists today, the Nobel committee is signalling a similar historical moment, another existential point for democracy,” she said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 12, 2021 07:39 UTC