- Ekarin Bamrungphak
- BBC Thai correspondent
image source, Russian Embassy in Thailand/Facebook
Russian Embassy in Thailand held a press conference on March 15, 2022, stating that about 50 people attended the event from various media in Thailand.
Almost three weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Russian ambassador to Thailand held a press conference with Thai media on March 15, but did not allow journalists working with Western media to attend.
A reporter who attended the press conference told BBC Thai that More than 30 journalists and photographers attended the event, attended by Russian Ambassador to Thailand Yevginy Tomikin. Be the sole spokesperson and open to Q&A sessions.
This Thai journalist said that a “farang reporter” was also present at the press conference. But it is unlikely to be media from the western nations. The embassy stated to the media attending the event that I was surprised that there were so many press requests to attend the event. But due to location restrictions and the need to maintain a distance during the COVID-19 outbreak Therefore, only Thai media have been selected to participate in the event first. The media from Western countries have not been invited to attend this press conference.
Another reporter from the Thai media said that Some Thai journalists were not selected. to attend this press conference as well
“Operation to end the war”
The two Thai journalists said that The Russian ambassador kicked off the press conference by referring to the 125-year relationship between Thailand and Russia. “It didn’t just happen on February 24, but it happened 8 years ago” and stated clearly. The incident in Ukraine is The talks lasted about 30 minutes before giving the media an hour for free questioning.
image source, Pictures from the press attending the press conference
One of the two reporters said: The Russian ambassador made it clear that This operation is not a war. Because neither Russia nor Ukraine have ever declared war between them, but the United States and the West did. “Information warfare” to make the world understand that “This is a war,” but the Russian ambassador mistakenly uses the word “war” when referring to events in Ukraine several times. It also asked a Thai journalist who asked the Russian ambassador to explain the differences. “Special military operations” and “war” whether the US invasion of Afghanistan is called “war” or not.
“In the Russian context This war has been going on since 8 years ago, when the new government [ของยูเครน] Conduct an attack on the Donbas region with Donetsk and Luhansk. Therefore, if in the context of what Russia would call war, it was eight years ago, and this time it was an operation to end the war,” said a journalist at the event, referring to the Russian ambassador’s interpretation.
Documents that Thai media have been distributed in this event are document named “The Donbas Tragedy The Truth Behind Events in Ukraine and Donbas (2014-2022)”, stating that these stories were not presented in the mainstream media in the West. And the Ukrainian government has committed several human rights violations. Including 152 children who died in the attack in Donbas.
image source, Pictures from the press attending the press conference
Documents distributed to the press at the press conference of the Russian Embassy
Donbas is a lowland region in eastern Ukraine bordering Russia. Separatist rebels occupied large swaths of the region in 2014 and have since declared themselves the “Donetsk People’s Republic” (Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and “Luhansk People’s Republic” (LPR) in the days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Russian government has certified the two regions as an independent state
This reporter said in a press conference The Russian ambassador reiterated that Russia was “oppressed” by the West and NATO.
“30 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union, he said that Russia has always been oppressed by the lies of the West, NATO and the United States that it will not expand its influence, but 30 years ago it was He had encountered the expansion of NATO’s influence up to 5 times, and this time it was as if It was the last straw,” said a reporter who attended the event.
Another reporter told BBC Thai that consistent with that The Russian ambassador has described the incident as being regularly harassed by his peers.
image source, Getty Images
Russian-backed rebels wave flags in Donetsk in 2015.
“If you have a friend And that friend is always banging your head, every day, every day. How will you react? How long will you allow him to do this? How much longer will you be able to endure?” the reporter recounts the parable of the Russian ambassador.
The reporter also recounted the Russian ambassador’s response to a question asked by a Thai journalist. “Want to leave something to the Thai people who follow this story? And then there was a furious reaction to Russia.”
The ambassador said I would like to ask you to spend time searching for information on the internet. to trace the history that what happened because history can already be read.”
The Russian ambassador also stated that Every battle will cause people’s casualties. But Russia insists It had no intention of attacking Ukrainian civilians.
Who is the current Russian ambassador?
According to the website of the Russian Embassy in Thailand, Yevginy Tomichin was appointed Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission in Bangkok on 2 Nov 2018
Mr Tomikin, born in 1966, married and has three sons, is fluent in Chinese and English.
He graduated from Leningrad State University. (St. Petersburg) in 1989 before starting Russian diplomatic work the following year. He has worked in various positions in the State Department and abroad. including the ambassador Embassy of the Russian Federation in China 2009 – 2016
Issues reported by Thai media
Thai media who attended the press conference has brought a variety of interesting points from the speeches and answers to questions of the Russian ambassador.
websiteMatichon The headline read: “Russian ambassador insists Thailand is friendly, criticizes ‘Ukraine’ and ‘US’ for using migratory birds as biological weapons’, reports Tomichin, at one point calling on the United States and Ukraine to explain their weapons research labs. Biologist in Ukraine, saying the issue is very serious, not only Russia and Ukraine. but for the whole world community Russia wants the United States and Ukraine to clarify the use of biological weapons. and give an example that There is a project using migratory birds to bring biological weapons into Russian territory.
business nation The headline reads, “Russian Ambassador thanked the Thai government. neutral When will the Ukrainian war line end?
Mr Tomikin thanked the Thai government for showing a neutral stance on the current situation. Despite a vote condemning Russia at the UN General Assembly
image source, Orla Guerin/BBC
Several residential buildings in the Ukrainian city of Kiev were damaged in the Russian attack.
Nation Business also quoted the Russian ambassador at one point as saying: “We are grateful that the Thai government has taken a balanced stance. We discuss with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs openly and honestly. We are glad that the Thai side is ready to listen to what we have to say. Despite the high pressure from Western governments Thailand has been a reliable partner for a long time. We have never had political conflicts with each other,” the Russian ambassador referred to the case of 25 European ambassadors’ visits to the foreign ministry to pressure the Thai government earlier.
partDaily NewsIt was reported that Russia admired Thailand. “Neutral”, not interested in the UN General Assembly vote By citing the words of the Russian ambassador that Although Thailand was one of 141 countries that voted in favor of the UN General Assembly resolution earlier this month. urges Russia to immediately end its military operations in Ukraine, however, Russia speculates as a result of “Western pressure” and the Moscow government is not keen on the matter.
TNN Online Reported that the Russian ambassador in Thailand took a stand against military operations in Ukraine. “Nobody wants to see a world war,” and was quoted as saying by the Russian ambassador. “Because if World War 3 happens, it might be the last war of the world. Russia’s position So try to end this war as quickly as possible.”
Watcharin Sethakudan from Thai News Agency who joined this press conference as well posted on Facebook that “Russia wants this crisis to end as soon as possible. And we are not the starters. The truth must go back and look at history. This incident started with the Ukrainian side 8 years ago.”
image source, Watcharin Setakudan/Facebook
“Russian Ambassador to Thailand Go back in history to the Thai media that The beginning of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine It didn’t just happen 3 weeks ago. But the truth is a story that can be traced to history. that the conflict has arisen since the Middle Ages This is also the former Soviet Union. Later in the 30s that the Cold War ended in 1991, the world saw East and West Germany unite. On that day, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) pledged that will not extend the framework of influence to countries bordering Russia But over time, it became apparent that What NATO said is not true.” Watcharin summarized the contents of the ambassador’s statement.