UWC addresses UN High Commissioner over persecution of Ukrainians in Russia

KYIV. Sept 20 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) has sent an official appeal to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet due to the growing violations of human rights of the Ukrainian minority in Russia and in response to the new repressive measures recently introduced by the Russian authorities against the Ukrainian ethnic minority, the congress’ press office said on Monday.

"Condemning the gross violation of human rights of the Ukrainian ethnic minority in Russia and actions of Russian government aimed at its elimination by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights would be a clear message of support for the global Ukrainian community, which is at the forefront of countering Russian disinformation and aggression against Ukrainians worldwide," the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in the official address.

The Congress said that previously, in late June 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin enacted draconian laws that imposed criminal sanctions on Russian citizens for associating with "undesirable" organizations, including the Ukrainian World Congress, which forced the UWC to suspend membership of its constituent organizations in Russia.

"During the past 15 years, the Putin government has been pursuing a policy of forceful assimilation of Ukrainians, the largest ethnic minority in Russia, by systematically intimidating and persecuting ethnic Ukrainians," the Congress said in the official letter.

Another component of this policy to liquidate the Ukrainian minority, Russian authorities have renewed the Tsarist and Soviet tactics of claiming that Ukrainians and Russians are "a single people". "This policy and crackdowns have led most Russian Ukrainians to simply be afraid of publicly revealing their ethnic identity, as it can pose a threat to their jobs and family safety," according to the letter.