"Do you know who Putin is? He is a monster": 10 years have passed since the death of Valeriya Novodvorskaya, one of the few Russians Ukrainians admire. Here are her most striking quotes

Friday, July 12, marked the 10th anniversary of the death of dissident and Soviet human rights activist Valeriya Novodvorskaya, who died in Moscow of infectious toxic shock at the age of 64. Life in Russia failed to break the anti-Putin and pro-Ukrainian stance of the native of the Belarusian city of Baranavichy.

Although the brave woman did not witness the worst crimes of the Russian Federation in Ukraine since 2014, her words contain predictions and warnings. OBOZ.UA has collected the most striking quotes from Novodvorskaya.

She was one of the conscious people who blamed not only the authorities for the troubles of Russia and neighboring countries but also the entire nation, which lives in tacit agreement with the terrorist and dictatorial regime.

"The fact that we have become a pit, that Putin has allowed us to become a European dump, and that we are frowned upon as if we were plagued, along with our Customs Union, is not only Putin's fault. It is the fault of the Russian people ," the dissident shamed her compatriots.

Long before the war in Ukraine, Valeriya Novodvorskaya predicted the emigration of Russian citizens who disagreed with the government.

"Our ship, Russia, has been captured by pirates... Only fanatics, cattle and scoops can be happy here. A smart person cannot be happy in Russia," the publicist said.

"In Russia, five percent of the population are Russians, Varangians, Vikings, Europeans, carriers of the Scandinavian tradition. The rest are reptiles, amoebas, and infusoria," one of her quotes reads.

The publicist simply hated Putin and was never afraid of him. She saw the dictator's rule as the end of Russia's development.

"In Russia, the government is illegal in moral and ethical terms. In political terms, too. It is an illegitimate government. Do you even know who Putin is? He is a monster. He is a creature of darkness," Valeriya believed.

The last year of her life was when Russia invaded Ukraine. The human rights activist never agreed with this. She considered Ukraine an independent state and predicted a happy future for it.

"Today's password of free people is 'Glory to Ukraine' and the response is 'Glory to the Heroes'. Please save Ukraine. This is the only thing that can save Russia," the Belarusian native called.

"Ukrainian soldiers are dying for the survival of their country called Ukraine, for it to break away from our cursed, miserable, evil Russia, full of slaves. I am telling you as a native of this Russia, I know what is happening here," the dissident explained.

"There is only one way out for Ukraine, which is a lasting peace. And a lasting peace comes when the enemy cannot raise its head because it has been torn off," the Russian said.

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