From a recent Facebook post by Tyler Harris, Executive Director of the National LP:
There is absolutely no reason that anyone — inside the Libertarian movement or outside of it — should carry water for Putin’s authoritarian regime as it wages a senseless and needless war of aggression in Ukraine. Those apologists eager to ape Putin’s propaganda, to blame Ukraine or NATO or the United States for this invasion, wittingly or unwittingly undermine not only the heroic efforts of Ukrainians to defend themselves and their homes from Russia’s aggression, but the efforts of thousands of Russian protestors and demonstrators, including Libertarians within Russia, who are risking their lives and livelihoods by demanding an end to the invasion.
All Libertarians make a pledge to “oppose the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.” There is no question who is initiating force for political purposes by waging war in Ukraine. This should not be a difficult or subtle issue for Libertarians. As always, we stand on the side of peace and in opposition to tyranny and the initiation of force. Those who stand with Putin cannot also stand for Liberty.
“…We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights. We condemn the use of force, and especially the use of terrorism, against the innocent, regardless of whether such acts are committed by governments or by political or revolutionary groups.”
— Libertarian Party Platform, 3.3 International Affairs
Putin's rationale for his murderous invasion of Ukraine rests heavily on the allegation that the United States is arming neo-Nazis. While there are undoubtedly some neo-Nazis in Ukraine, (and also in Russia, elsewhere in Europe, in the United States, and everywhere else), it's incredibly disturbing to see the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire regurgitate Putin's claims in their Facebook statement on the invasion. https://www.facebook.com/LPNewHampshire/posts/313837490774639
What's even more disgusting is that while the LP of NH posts bad takes on Putin's war, members of the Russian Libertarian Party are being detained daily by the police for their stand against the war.
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