Appeal of Belarusan civil society organizations and public activists on the situation in Ukraine

23.01.2014 Tags: statement

https://spring96.org./en/news/68646 2014 2014-01-23T13:37:10+0300 2014-01-23T13:37:10+0300 2014-01-23T13:37:10+0300 en https://spring96.org./files/images/sources/ukraina-1.jpg The Human Rights Center “Viasna” The Human Rights Center “Viasna” The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

Appeal

of Belarusan civil society organizations and public activists

To:

the European Parliament

the Council of the European Union

the European Commission

the US Congress

Barack Obama, US president

Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations

Viktor Yanukovych, President of Ukraine

the leaders of Ukrainian opposition parties

the people of Ukraine

These days, when the situation in Ukraine is being no longer controlled bythe opposing forces, when blood is being shed, when there are street fights in Kyiv and weapons are being used, we cannot maintain aloofness. The Ukrainian people are our fraternal nation and we, Belarusans, do understand their problems. In our opinion, the confrontation in Ukraine and its dramatic outcome are the result of the actions of the authorities that persistently ignore the requirements of the people of Ukraine, that are trusted no longer by the Ukrainians, that pass absurd laws, and that are trying relentlessly to establish a dictatorship in the country. We also believe that the errors of the oppositional politicians and protesters have not allowed them to find a peaceful solution of the situation.

We think that the bloodshed in Ukraine can be stopped now. We are convinced that the termination of violence and hostilities is not going to worsen the protesters’ position and will not lead to their defeat. After all, it is not acts of violence that make any protests strong, but protesters’ fidelity to their principles, their readiness to solve problems and self-organization, and we have already seen that the Ukrainian people do have such skills!

We urge the Maidan politicians and leaders to make everything possible in order to regain control over the situation and to convince the protesters to stop violence. The termination of violence does not mean the protesters cannot protect themselves and should leave their positions.

We urge the insurgents to carry out negotiations with anyone who is able to negotiate and to do something, who is able to control the situation even on limited sites - in a certain space of the street actions theater, in power structures, in government structures.

We urge the people of Ukraine not to consider the negotiation processand the political steps, which are still possible and effective today, to be the “playing for time”. Violent acts will not lead to a fast solution of the problem, but will only make the situation uncontrolled.

We urge the power structures and Ukrainian power to agree to start a real dialogue with the people of Ukraine even if the people’s demands seem unacceptable to the authorities.

We urge the law enforcement agents, militia, as well as titushky (subjects hired by the state), to stop prosecutions, abductions, and beatings of the protesters.

We urge all parties involved in the current political crisis in Ukraine to get consolidated and to undertake a peace-support mission. We are sure that the personal presence of representatives of the UN countries and international organizations that are interested in the solution of the conflict these days in Kyiv will play the role of an escalation constraining factor and will make it possible to prevent the new and mass slaughter.

Unity, organization, and consistency are the guarantee of joint successful actions!

Tatiana Novikova, "Ecodom", environmental association «Green Alliance»

Uladzimir Matskevich, International Consortium "EuroBelarus"

Tatiana Poshevalova, Center for Social Innovations

Inna Zhiznevskaya, "Ecodom"

Svetlana Korolyova, public activist

Igor Rynkevich, public establishment "Democracy Development League"

Sergei Matskevich, Belarusan NGOs Assembly

Valadar Tsurpanov, Civic Space Center

Inna Kulei, Solidarity Committee

Tatsiana Vadalazhskaya, Humanitarian Techniques Agency

Ulad Vialichka, International Consortium "EuroBelarus"