Petition is addressed to: All European ophthalmological societies

Stop the War in Ukraine by Exclusion or freezing of the ophthalmological representatives of Russia and Belarus from the international ophthalmological societies.
Dear colleagues, 
The war unleashed by the Russian Federation has been going on in Ukraine since 2014. More than one month ago Russian Army and Russian Government have begun an unprecedently brutal occupational attack with violations and killing of civilian people, destruction of infrastructure. This all happens just because Russian Federation can’t accept the existence of sovereign Ukraine and want to recreate the Soviet Union. 
This is the time when all people including scientific community shall not stay aside, but shall unite in their struggle against Russian terror and brutality.
What about the medical and scientific community of russia at this time?
The Union of Rectors in russia supported the russian war against Ukraine by writing a corresponding appeal. This was reported by the Center for Combating Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council.
Among those who officially expressed support, many rectors of medical universities:
1. Glybochko Pyotr Vitalyevich, Vice-President of the USSR, Rector of the First Moscow State Medical University named after IM Sechenov, supported the war
2. Bashkina Olga Alexandrovna, rector of the Astrakhan State Medical Academy, supported the war
3. Zheleznov Lev Mikhailovich, rector of the Kirov State Medical University, supported the war
4. Zhmerenetsky Konstantin Vyacheslavovich, rector of the Far Eastern State Medical University, supported the war
5. Zabolotsky Tatiana Vladimirovna, rector of the Amur State Medical Academy, supported the war
6. Ivanov Dmitry Olegovich, rector of St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, supported the war
7. Kalinin Roman Yevgenyevich, Rector of the Ryazan State Medical University named after Academician IP Pavlov, supported the war
8. Kolsanov Alexander Vladimirovich, rector of the Samara State Medical University, supported the war
9. Korotkova Elena Igorevna, rector of the Kirov State Medical University, supported the war
10. Kotelnikov Gennady Petrovich, president of the Samara State Medical University, supported the war
11. Kulikov Evgeny Sergeevich, Rector of the Siberian State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, supported the war
12. Livzan Maria Anatolyevna, rector of Omsk State Medical University, supported the war
13. Lukyanov Sergei Anatolyevich, Rector of the Russian National Research Medical University named after NI Pirogov, supported the war
14. Lysov Nikolai Alexandrovich, rector of Samara Medical University "Reaviz", supported the war
15. Novikov Yuri Vasilyevich, President of Yaroslavl State Medical University, supported the war
16. Pavlov Alexei Vladimirovich, rector of Yaroslavl State Medical University, supported the war
17. Pavlov Valentin Nikolaevich, Rector of the Bashkir State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, supporting the war
18. Petrov Ivan Mikhailovich, rector of the Tyumen State Medical University, supported the war
19. Saiganov Sergey Anatolyevich, Rector of Northwestern State Medical University named after II Mechnikov, supported the war
20. Chibisova Marina Anatolyevna, rector of the St. Petersburg Institute of Postgraduate Dentistry, supported the war
Recent polling data provides the clearest indication of Russian popular support for the war in Ukraine. In the days following the February 24 invasion, Putin’s personal approval rating actually rose to multi-year highs. According to state pollster VTsIOM, his rating jumped six percent in the week ending February 27 to reach 70%. Fellow polling agency FOM recorded a seven percent increase over the same period, bringing approval of Putin to 71%
.While these Kremlin-linked polls suffer from obvious credibility issues, a recent survey carried out by a group of independent research organizations reached strikingly similar conclusions. This nationwide Russian survey was conducted between February 28 and March 3 when the reality of the war was already apparent. It found that around 58 percent of Russians approved of the invasion of Ukraine, while just 23 percent opposed it.
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/not-just-putin-most-russians-support-the-war-in-ukraine/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/08/russia-public-opinion-ukraine-invasion/
 
This clearly shows that large part of the Russian nation supports Putin in his open aggression and will to change the political order in Europe. 
What is the role of sanctions and boycott?
 
The role of economic sanctions is to limit the transfer of technologies to Russia and to affect the economic potential of this country to show that continuation of the war is too expensive. Do sanctions affect Putin and oligarchs – unfortunately only to some extent, and they mostly affect ordinary citizens.