May 11, 2015, First Anniversary Of The Initial Protest In Front Of Mistrals

The nine first demonstrators in shipyard, May11, 2014: Philippe, Oleg, Oksana, Lena, David, Luc, Diana, Mylena & Bernard (taking the picture) 

The nine first demonstrators in shipyard, May11, 2014: Philippe, Oleg, Oksana, Lena, David, Luc, Diana, Mylena & Bernard (taking the picture) 

While, in St Nazaire on May 9, 2014, we learned that the Mistral class vessel "Vladivostok" would soon sail off for sea tests. We decided to do a flash mob in front of the completed Vladivostok and the, still in construction, "Sevastopol", two days after. We wanted to protest against the planned delivery to Putin of these two invasion vessels. We did consider that the honour of France would be spoiled by such a shame. On May 11, 2014, we were 9 people coming from Nantes (Loire Atlantique) and St Jean d'Angély (Charente Maritime). We were very few. But we believed something should be done. It was a long way. It is still not over. We never got any support from any organisation, political party, country or NGO. According to what we heard, we were dreamers and our cause was a lost one. 

However, as for Maidan, we proved that independent citizen mobilization has its place in the History of people. And it became an international movement, thanks to all who joined us. Tens of anti-Mistral deal protests erupted in major cities of the World. Media started to talk about the threat to peace these ships would be in the hands of the aggressive Vladimir Putin's regime. Our FB page (5 220 followers) and our website "No Mistrals for Putin" were regularly consulted by journalists. We guided many of them in St Nazaire. Our work became the reference about this "deal of the shame", covered by military secret. Thought, today, the contract is frozen, it is not broken. We cannot give up. We claimed, and still claim for the Putin's Mistral deal termination. Only this termination will free French President and Government speech to, eventually, openly say what's going on in eastern Europe. 

As long as this contract is not terminated, France will be unable to tell the truth in order to not displease Kremlin, while hoping a reasonable conclusion of the contract in terms of financial issues and potential penalties. This fishy game has gone on long enough! Our Government must say what it is aware of. Our French compatriots need to know the real war of Putin in eastern Ukraine. Our compatriots need to know how the Kremlin is boosting an excessive, dangerous and war-addict nationalism in Russia. Hypocrisy and blackout should come to an end. This a question of honour. This a question of values on which our republic is built. This is a question of human rights. This is a question of future safety for all of us. MISTRAL DEAL MUST BE TERMINATED! 

Bernard Grua, Follow us on FB: No Mistrals for Putin

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