Against a backdrop of the mass protests in Belarus, Ukraine’s public intellectuals and civil society actors addressed the people of Belarus, said they are an example to the world of what standing for freedom and dignity is, “Novoe Vremya” reports.
We herewith quote the full text of their appeal:
FOR YOUR FREEDOM AND OURS!
Dear Belarusian sisters and brothers!
We are watching the events in your country unfold feeling both joyful and worried.
Joyful, as we see your people – our neighbor and friend, awakening .
Worried, as we hear reports of more and more victims.
We, Ukrainians, have also been through the challenges like these. We are convinced that they are not over yet, but we’ve chosen our path. No matter how difficult and long it may be, it’s ours, and we will not leave it.
We have no intention of either patronizing you or giving you advice, right now it’s not us but you showing an example to the world of what standing for freedom and dignity is.
We would like to express our national solidarity with you.
We feel for you, we are proud of you, we love you.
Wishing you the victory, as your victory will be our victory too.
For Your Freedom and Ours!
Long live Belarus! Glory to Ukraine!
- Yevhen Bystrytskyi, philosopher, Institute of Philosophy, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
- Oleksiy Haran, political scientist, National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”, Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation
- Volodymyr Horbach, political analyst, Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation
- Oleksandra Hnatyuk, National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”, PEN Ukraine
- Yaroslav Hrytsak, historian, Ukrainian Catholic University
- Hennadiy Druzenko, lawyer, writer, volunteer, Donbas war veteran
- Volodymyr Dubrovskyi, economist, CASE Ukraine
- Volodymyr Yermolenko, philosopher, NGO “Internews Ukraine”, UkraineWorld.org, National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”
- Yevhen Zakharov, human rights defender, Ukrainian Helsinki Group, Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
- Josef Zissels, former political prisoner, Initiative Group “First December”
- Serhiy Kvit, National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”, Minister of Education and Science (2014-2016)
- Ihor Kozlovskyi, religious studies expert, prisoner of conscience in the so-called “DPR”
- Myroslav Marynovych, former political prisoner, Ukrainian Catholic University, Initiative Group “First December”
- Oleksandra Matviychuk, human rights defender, Center for Civil Liberties
- Volodymyr Omelyan, politician, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine (2016-2019)
- Oleksiy Panych, philosopher, PEN Ukraine
- Valeriy Pekar, entrepreneur, civil society actor, “New Country” (Nova Krayina) Civic Platform
- Nataliya Popovych, Ukraine Crisis Media Center, One Philosophy
- Vitaliy Portnikov, writer, journalist, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, PEN Ukraine
- Mykola Ryabchuk, writer, PEN Ukraine
- Kostyantyn Sigov, philosopher, Center of the European Humanitarian Studies at the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”, “Dukh i Litera” publishing house
- Olena Styazhkina, historian, writer
- Oleksandr Sushko, political scientist, civil society actor, International Renaissance Foundation
- Tetyana Teren, journalist, PEN Ukraine
