TO UKRAINIAN SOCIETY
Friends!
From the very beginning of the «Orange Revolution» in Ukraine, in fact since immediately after the first round of presidential elections, many influential sources of the Russian mass media have not stopped claiming that there is a battle in your country between «pro-Russian» and «anti-Russian» factions, and have almost openly supported one of the sides of the civic conflict. A similar interpretation of the essence of events in Ukraine, albeit with an opposite assessment and different political sympathies, is presented to readers by a significant part of the western press.
We would like you to know that in Russia there are a lot of people who do not believe this. We are well aware that Ukrainian citizens – Ukrainians, Russians, Crimean Tatars, Byelorussians, Jews, Armenians, Greeks and others, regardless of their ethnic background, their native language, sense of cultural identity, place of residence, and even their political affiliations – have come out on the streets of Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities not because they want to express «anti-Russian» sentiments. They have simply had enough of being treated not like citizens, but like cattle. They are outraged that self-seeking politicians have tried to manipulate them, and that the result of their expression of voters will was flagrantly falsified. It is not a question of a battle for power between parties, blocs and individuals. The multicultural people of Ukraine have risen in defence of their civic and political rights, to defend their freedom and their right to choose their government. It is specifically this which constitutes the deeper meaning of the protest of Ukrainian people.
It is possible that those who determine Russias official policy at the moment assume that Ukraine, torn apart by ethnic and cultural conflict, governed by a weak, corrupt, semi-authoritarian regime, forced to rely on external support, will be the most convenient neighbour for our country. We want you to know that there is another Russia.
That other Russia knows the truth.
That Russia which is interested in seeing Ukraine free, united and stable, striving, like itself, to return to Europe.
That Russia which understands that the defeat of democracy in Ukraine would be a harsh blow for Russian democracy.
That Russia which believes that the values of freedom and justice in our countries – some sooner, some later – will prevail.
We are with you.
The letter was initiated by the Russian Organization «Memorial» and signed by more than 100 human rights organizations, public figures and members of the arts in Russia.
17 November 2004