Honourable International Community:
Since 22 Nov. 2013, for almost two months, the people of Ukraine are standing up for their right to live in a free and democratic country. Days and nights they stay outside in the bitter cold and freezing temperatures in order to bring to a final conclusion the democratic changes that were started by the Orange Revolution in 2004.
Independence for Ukraine is very young – it was born 22 years ago as a result of breakup of the Soviet Union. Since that time, Ukrainians are re-establishing their history and culture after Soviet and Russian oppression. Ukrainian people for the first time in hundreds of years are trying to rebuild their own independent state. The lack of historical experience in democratic processes, the broken economy of the post-Soviet era, travel isolation, and failure to remove the soviet bureaucrats from power and government positions have all led to the criminalization of the entire economy and thereby enriching a small group of oligarchs at the cost of the state and the ordinary people of Ukraine. Today, Ukrainian oligarchs are among the richest in the world, and Ukrainian retirees are among the poorest in the world. The oligarchs-controlled politics prevents the development of the middle economic class in the society. It is very difficult for the Ukrainian businesses to become competitive internationally, but they are trying very hard.
When Ukraine made a VISA-free entry on its territory for European and North American countries, the Ukrainian people had hoped to establish closer ties with the international democratic community. Unfortunately, the Ukrainian government and politicians could not reach and sign the agreement of association with the European Union. At the same time, Ukraine found itself pressured by the Eastern neighbour – the anti-democratic Russian Federation with its propositions for a Custom Union favoured now because of the ongoing economic manipulations against Ukraine.
On January 16, 2014, a group of members of parliament illegitimately approved a series of laws that take away many basic Constitutional rights and freedom of peaceful assembly. The international law-makers and community at large find these new laws anti-constitutional. These laws together with new absurd prosecutions of activists and journalists caused the new unrest in the Ukrainian society.
On January 19, 2014, Ukrainian people felt dissatisfied with the new laws, the actions of the government and its opposition. The people took to the streets and were confronted by the riot police. This confrontation has already led to spill of blood on the streets and many people being injured. The course of currents events in Ukraine can be followed at:
or on Twitter at @sitemaidan та @sitеmaidan_eng
Today, Ukrainian people are continuing to form their democratic movements – Euro-Maidans – all over the world. The example of such consolidation is All-Ukraine Euromaidan Forum in Kharkiv, which had adopted the resolution recognizing human rights as basic for the development of Ukrainian society.
We support in the first place the people of Ukraine and Ukrainian civil society in their aspiration to make decisions about the future of their country. We hope for the solidarity of the international community with Ukrainian people.
Representatives of the Euro Maidans – all over the world.
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