Russian Embassy Thanks ‘Many Maltese Friends’ Who Criticised Anti-Putin Billboards Erected Around Island
The Russian Embassy in Malta has tweeted its thanks to people who criticised the recent erection of anti-Putin billboards across the island.
“We would like to thank our many Maltese friends who expressed their righteous indignation and disagreement with the anti-Russian campaign to install in Malta the billboard posters with accusations against the President of Russia,” the embassy tweeted. “Stop hatred. Respect all people.”
We would like to thank our many Maltese friends who expressed their righteous indignation and disagreement with the anti-Russian campaign to install in Malta the billboard posters with accusations against the President of Russia.#StopHatred #RespectAllPeople pic.twitter.com/Uj0Zr7OHET
— Russian Embassy to Malta (@RusEmbMalta) February 28, 2023
To mark one year since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, billboards calling out Russian President Vladimir Putin for “killing innocent civilians for a whole year” were placed across Malta by members of the Ukranian community.
However, many people expressed resentment at the billboards and the prospect of Malta getting involved in a war between sovereign states, which they warned contrated with Malta’s constitutional commitment to neutrality.
A post originating from the local platform Are You Being Served? (Malta and Gozo) Original, calling for the removal of the billboards, quickly garnered over 600 reactions and 400 comments.
“Remove these billboards. Malta does not have the resources to handle a war, please remove them and take care of citizens,” one person commented.
“I’m sorry, but this is simply stupid on all levels. Some people are seriously short-sighted,” another one said.
However, some called for more of these billboards to be erected, arguing that was is written is all factual, and that just because Malta is neutral, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t stand up for what is right.
What do you make of this token of gratitude?
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