Several journalists were detained in Ukraine in the end of April, including Artem Buzila, Elena Romanova-Glischinskaya and Vitaly Didenko. They were arrested just for their belief that they have the right to express their opinions, which are different from the views of people in power. In addition, according to his lawyer, Artem Buzila has been tortured and coerced to confess to acts he has not committed.
As we can see from this example, there are only two opinions in Ukraine: the opinion of the authorities and the wrong one. These attacks on democratic rights are happening in a country that is aspiring to join the European Union. Those in power are willing to wipe out all dissenters as annoying obstacles on the path to so called “democracy” and “freedom”. This desire of theirs to enjoy a “European freedom” is highly dangerous to those who understand by freedom something other than the need to blindly follow the leaders.
As history has shown us, blind obedience to the leaders and the formed opinion of majority leads to such disastrous results as political repression in the United States in the 1950-s and the Holocaust of Jews during World War II. There are many examples of it. You have banned all symbols of the Soviet Union, and even the very mentioning of the Great Patriotic War, bringing down the monuments to Lenin, the founder of the Republic of Ukraine in its present borders, while suppressing any opposition. By your actions, you undermine your integrity and the credibility of your country in the eyes of all people in the world who believe that only in debate can the Truth be born, and that the freedom of speech, press, religion and political affiliation are as necessary for the development of a healthy and progressive society as air is for the human life.
If the detained journalists are really that dangerous – then let it be decided in a fair, unbiased and civilized court. But if you continue to imprison journalists for mere diligent performance of their work, by such actions you will be condemned by the journalists from all over the world.
Joe Iosbaker, Spokesperson for the Committee to Stop FBI Repressions (http://www.stopfbi.net/)
Greg Butterfield, International Action Center Representative and Staff Member of Center for Constitutional Rights (USA)
June 17, 2015.
P.S. If you agree with the above statement, please help us to make this letter more visible by signing the following petitions:
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