LI News, December 5, 2013

LI member party, Ukraine of the Future, and liberals on the ground in Kiev have expressed solidarity with protestors demonstrating against the Ukrainian government’s decision to withdraw from the Agreement of Association with the European Union.

Speaking exclusively to LI, Ukraine of the Future said: “Ukraine of the Future expresses solidarity with protesters in the common cause of signing the Agreement of Association with the European Union. Mass action and public protests of citizens are taking place today in Kiev and other cities of Ukraine to support the European integration course – a sign of existence of democracy and civil society in Ukraine.”

Demonstrators continue to conduct themselves peacefully despite the brutal crackdown on the night of November 30 in Independence Square – the main square of the capital. The statement concludes: “We wish to see the cessation of violence in our country and we condemn the beating of civil protesters. We call on the public authorities to investigate the case and to uphold the rule of law.”

The statement from Ukraine of the Future was announced in advance of Ukraine’s post-Soviet presidents adding their support to the protests

Meanwhile, in response to the claims that Putin’s Russia has bullied the Ukrainian government into not signing the EU agreement, LI’s member party in Russia, Yabloko, has spoken out. Yabloko’s leader, Sergei Mitrokhin, was adamant: “It is better to engage in the developments in our country, rather than interfering in the affairs of others. It is wrong when Russia is trying to influence the situation in another country.”

The Russian liberal leader continued: “The most important thing for Ukrainian politicians is to keep the situation under control for peaceful solutions. This vector towards European development has already become irreversible for Ukraine.”

The comments from liberals in both Russia and Ukraine add to the urgency resolution adopted at the ALDE Party congress recently, which calls for “European institutions to condemn the use of force against peaceful demonstrators in Kiev” and that the courage of the Ukrainian people be commended as they undertake “peaceful initiatives to defend their rights and freedoms.”

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