For all the victims

Following the tumult of the last two weeks, it can be hard to turn our gaze to Belarus, and those suffering repression under the Lukashenko regime. 

It is imperative, however, on this 16th day of the month - BELARUS SOLIDARITY DAY - that we do remember – for the sake of Belarusians who need the world’s attention, and for the sake of Ukraine. 

On the 16th of the month we remember those who disappeared without trace in Belarus.

Among those whose names are known we remember Yury Zakharenko, Viktor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovsky, Dmitri Zavadsky.

We remember also the victims of the Kuchma regime, among them: Georgy Gongadze, Ihor Aleksandrov.

We honour the memory of those victims whose names are not known or whose deaths have never been officially recognized as politically motivated.

In November and December 2004 Ukrainians came out onto Maidan - onto squares and streets throughout Ukraine.  Their demands included freedom to express their views and to have them listened to; to have a government which knew that it could not act in its own venal interests with impunity.  They reminded those in power of the Constitution and proved that “the people are the bearers of sovereignty and the only source of power in Ukraine”. 

In March this year thousands of Belarusians made those same demands.  Some, including ex-presidential candidate, Aleksandr Kazulin, have been imprisoned, many persecuted by a vindictive and dictatorial regime.

REMEMBER Belarus today

REMEMBER all victims of those regimes which believe that they can trample on human life, dignity and freedom with impunity

REMIND those regimes that they will be held to answer and that we are not afraid.

It is only by REMEMBERING that we can ensure a LASTING END to criminal regimes.