Valentina Melnikova

Overview

Valentina Melnikova born Moscow February 28, 1946. Founding head of Committee of Soldiers Mothers of Russia (CSMR), 1989; chair of United People's Party of Soldiers' Mothers. Opposed Chechen War, 1994; participated in Mother’s March for Life and Compassion, 1995; opposed 10,000 Russian troops in Ukraine, 2014. Received Sean MacBride Peace Prize, 1995.

Quotations

"[Putin is] violating not only international laws, not only the Geneva Convention, [he] also is breaking Russian Federation law about defense. . . and as for [commander-in-chief of the Russian airborne troops] Vladimir Shamanov, we should be too disgusted to even mention his name—he forces his servicemen to fight in a foreign state, Ukraine, illegally, while mothers receive coffins with their sons, anonymously." (Daily Beast, Aug. 28, 2014; photo droppingknowledge.org)