Financial assistance in the amount of USD 1000 was granted by the Polish Foundation to families of the fallen soldiers, Maidan victims and large families.
Throughout this year 160 families of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes, journalists, medical workers and volunteers who died in the combat in East Ukraine have received financial aid in the amount of USD 1,000 in hryvnia equivalent. The money is charitable donations from the Polish Lech Walesa Solidarity Prize, which Zhanna Nemtsova, Boris Nemtsov’s daughter, received in 2015 and decided to pass to Ukrainians. “It is 107 families of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes, 6 families of journalists, 32 families of medical workers and 15 large families,” said Tamila Tasheva, coordinator of the NGO “Crimea SOS”, at a press briefing held at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. “This is recognition that their sacrifices were not in vain, that it was a contribution to the development of democratic values in Ukraine,” she noted.
This amount was allotted per family. The money was put in a bank account in hryvnia equivalent. Crimea SOS was a mediator who helped coordinate the process.
In addition, one hundred families have received free legal assistance – consultations on tax and social benefits issues. “We are ready to provide further legal advice if necessary,” added Tamila Tasheva.
Tasheva noted that they had been running the project for the second year. 187 families received such aid in 2015: 107 families of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes, six families of journalists, 26 familes of medical workers and 48 large families. The money was given by Mustafa Dzhemilev who used his award for this support.
Igor Guryk, father of Roman Guryk, Hero of the Heavenly Hundred, express his gratitude to the Polish people, Solidarity, Mustafa Dzhemilev, Zhanna Nemtsova and Crimea SOS for the support of those whose relatives had died fighting for an independent and democratic future of Ukraine. “It is very important for us because when we see such support, we understand that we are not forgotten. But the main thing is not only memory but also movement to the ideals for which they died. Instead of renaming a street, people had better throw garbage in a proper place and respect the older generation as well as those who need help. This will be the best way to express such memory,” said Igor Huryk.
Tamila Tasheva informed that, with the activists’ initiative, the Presidential Administration had launched the process of granting the Hero of Ukraine status to Crimean Tatar Reshat Ametov – the first person killed in Crimea for his political position. On March 3, 2014 Reshat went to the military commissariat to enroll as a volunteer and then disappeared. Later it turned out that he had participated in a peaceful protest against the occupation. There he was attacked by some unidentified persons, seized and taken away in an unknown direction. On March 15, he was found dead with signs of torture.