The Russian Embassy in Colombo has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the inclusion of what it calls “anti-Russian” content in the ongoing World Press Photo Exhibition 2024 at Independence Square Arcade. Organized by the Sri Lanka Press Institute and the Embassy of the Netherlands, the exhibition has sparked diplomatic tensions, with the Russian mission condemning the portrayal of events in Ukraine as biased and one-sided.
In a statement released by the Embassy, officials criticized the exhibition’s focus on what they described as “Western and Kiev interpretation” of the Ukraine conflict. They alleged that the materials showcased ignored critical aspects of the situation, including “crimes of the Zelensky regime against the residents of Donbas,” “infringements on the rights of Russian-speaking populations,” and “targeted murders of Russian journalists.” The statement also accused the West of “hypocrisy and double standards” in its narratives.
The Embassy called on Sri Lankan authorities to respond appropriately, stating that hosting such an event was inconsistent with the historically friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka.
The Russian statement also took aim at the Dutch Embassy in Colombo, one of the co-organizers of the event, recommending that it redirect its focus to returning artifacts “criminally taken by Dutch colonizers” during their rule over Sri Lanka.
The controversy highlights the increasingly fraught geopolitical landscape as countries navigate their relationships amidst global conflicts and competing narratives. The Sri Lankan government has yet to issue a response to the Russian Embassy’s statement.
This makes me very angry.
The whole world needs to be criticising Russia. Their leader is a wanted war criminal and the only side of the argument is that his facist state invaded a peaceful and democratic neighbour and has killed many thousands of innocent people.
Well done to Sri Lanka and the Netherlands for this exhibition.
This makes me very angry.
The whole world needs to be criticising the US+NATO. Their leaders should be wanted war criminals. The only side of the argument is that this oligarchic state and its NATO-army wrecked many peoples and nations, starting with the Native-Americans. Just some examples: Vietnam, Laos, Irak, Afghanistan, Libya, list seems endless. It has killed about 300 million people during its short history as David Michael Smith calculates in his “ Endless Holocausts”
As a docile vassal state, the Netherlands has done very well in complying to the American demands