III International Seminar on Transatlantic Security organizers at Instituto de Defesa Nacional

III International Seminar on Transatlantic Security organizers at Instituto de Defesa Nacional
Dear Sir/Madame,
Being aware of the situation in Ukraine, that led toMaidan, to the Revolution of Dignity in 2013-2014, Ukrainians living abroad refer to many local governmental institutions not only for getting any practical help, but also in a need to fight against strong propaganda machine which Russian Federation uses actively and efficiently.

Ukrainians protested against the criminal regime of ex-president of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, against power usurpation, dictatorship, and human rights violence.

This I know not from the newspapers yet basing on my personal experience, since I was an active Maidan protests participant, being a medical doctor and providing appropriate help to the wounded and sick protesters in December, 2013 as well as in January, 2014.
The reason for those protest was the very particular wish of Ukrainians to live in the state of democracy, respect for human rights and freedom, without any corruption and suppression.

We were not informed enough back then, yet we are quite acknowledged now, that the criminal regime of Yanukovych was always supported by Russian Federation on purpose to always keep Ukraine captured within Russia external interests.

When Russia failed to help the regime to hold on, during the Revolution itself, while the regime killed more than hundred of people and made thousand severely injured, they decided to start direct although veiled aggression against Ukraine, first, in Crimea, than in the Eastern Ukraine. Cowardly, secretly, pretending it is not them, lying to the world and twisting the facts about war in Ukraine. The results we have got today are horrible, killed, wounded, disabled, refugees, destroyed areas, yet what is more important, destroyed lives.

At the moment Ukraine is a shield in between the aggressive Kremlin's empire and the European stability/democracy. Which is why not only understanding, also support, is highly meaningful and significant to us.

Above all, we are very concerned and worried about probable restoration of the previous regime, because it is exactly what Russia needs at the moment, - to never allow Ukraine to go its own democratic way.

In the context of all aforementioned, we are worried even much more when we see the names of those that belong to the Yanukovich band, in the list of the honourable participants of the conference held by IDN in Lisbon.
Namely, I am indignant seeing the name of ex-ambassador Nykonenko who always conducted pro-kremlin politics here, and our community not only once wrote the letters to the ministry of foreign affairs of Ukraine as well as to Portuguese official institutions in the past.

On the 12th of April, there would be the 3rd international Seminar on Transatlantic Security where Nykonenko is going to represent Ukraine speaking about such an important matter as “The War on Ukraine and the transatlantic Security” what I personally consider inappropriate. The person, who implemented the Kremlin's politics, cannot be the one to express our national ideas since he betrayed Ukraine not once but on the regular basis.

That moves us, and me, in particular, to ask you to revise your viewpoints on the subject and to replace the spokesperson for Ukrainian who possesses the values of democracy and is not engaged with the fascists regime of Russian Federation.

Sincerely,
Olena Liubarska
and Olesya Zaruma
Ukrainians, civil activists living in Portugal

https://www.facebook.com/elenasofial/posts/1747907555442363

{module mod_knopka_comments}