Russia’s Blatant Abuse of Human Rights Condemned

Holodomor International Remembrance Flame stopped with scare tactics

The Ukrainian World Congress condemns the blatant abuse of human rights by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s government which has successfully stopped events planned [in the Russian Federation] to commemorate the 75^th Anniversary of the Holodomor – Famine Genocide in Ukraine 1932-33. 

Prior to the arrival of the International Remembrance Flame in Russia, the Ukrainian Embassy [in Moscow] received notice on October 6 from Russia’s Foreign Ministry that commemorative events must fall in line with the Russian position on the famine or be cancelled.   Russia continues to claim that the Holodomor was not genocide and that Ukraine’s effort to secure such recognition is “a political matter that is aimed against Russian interests.”

It has been confirmed that Ukrainian community activists in Orenburg, Tumen, Ufa, St. Petersburg and Krasnodar have been subjected to undue pressure and scare tactics by government officials in the region resulting in the cancellation of planned events.

Russia was the next scheduled stop on the itinerary of the Holodomor International Remembrance Flame – a symbol which has travelled through 29 countries since April of this year.  Events in conjunction with the arrival of the Flame honour the millions of victims of Stalin’s deliberate attempt to eradicate the Ukrainian nation through starvation.  The Flame will be received in Ukraine in November for nation-wide commemorations.

The international Ukrainian community is appalled by Russia’s continuing disregard for basic human rights, among them Freedom of Speech and Expression.  Ukrainians in Russia, as in every other country of the world, have every right to maintain their [ethnic] national identity with respect for history, culture and traditions.  In 2008, the fact that such rights are so easily dismissed is unacceptable.  Russia must understand that the global community will not tolerate such actions which clearly demonstrate that the country has not shed its past. 

The Ukrainian World Congress urges citizens of every democratic country to join the Ukrainian global community in this protest.  Contact the Russian Embassy in your country. Let them know that human rights abuses in 2008 will not be tolerated.  Let them know that, this time, the world is paying attention.

For further information, contact the Ukrainian World Congress (416-323-3020) or Stefan Romaniw +61419531255