Paulo Coelho: Ukrainian crisis is a convenient excuse for Russophobia

Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho shared his opinion on the Russian-Ukrainian war on Twitter. He called the war «Ukrainian crisis» that is «a convenient excuse for Russophobia».

Ukraine crisis a convenient excuse for Russophobia

— Paulo Coelho (@paulocoelho) March 11, 2022

«I have been to Lvov, Kyiv, Odessa, Yalta, Chernobyl (Ukraine). I’ve crossed 10.000 km by train, Moscow to Vladivostok (Russia). Yes, there is a war;but don’t blame the common people», — he added in another tweet.

I’ve been to Lvov, Kyiv, Odessa, Yalta, Chernobyl (Ukraine)

I’ve crossed 10.000 km by train, Moscow to Vladivostok (Russia)

Yes, there is a war: but don’t blame the common people

— Paulo Coelho (@paulocoelho) March 11, 2022

Coelho also commented on news about the rising of aerospace and defense stocks of European and American companies: «How to make money with blood, sweat and tears of Russians / Ukrainians. Shame!».

How to make money with blood, sweat and tears of Russians/Ukrainians.
Shame! https://t.co/41EtLphBkJ

— Paulo Coelho (@paulocoelho) March 3, 2022

Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian writer, member of the Brazilian literature academy. His novel Alchemist sold 150 million copies worldwide. The novel is the best-selling book by a Brazilian author in history. Previously, writers are calling for donations for Ukrainian refugees worldwide, including Alison Killing, Neil Gaiman, and Bernardine Evaristo.

Margaret Atwood, Olga Tokarchuk, Frederik Begbede, Joanne Rowling, Yuval Noah Harari, Witold Szablowski, Elif Shafak and Stephen King also expressed support. In addition, some world-renowned writers have begun to cut off book contacts with Russia.