The war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine since 2014 has already claimed the lives of thousands of people in Ukraine. The Russian leadership continues to grossly violate numerous international norms and agreements. Among other things, the Russian authorities and their supporters are responsible for the abduction and illegal detention of Ukrainian citizens, torture, murder, the creation of filtration camps, the removal of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation and their adoption there. Tens of thousands of war crimes and violations of international humanitarian norms have been recorded, which were committed by the military personnel of the Russian army during the occupation of the territories of Ukraine.
The work of eliminating the numerous consequences of the war, such as demining territories, restoring infrastructure, helping traumatised people and restoring the rights of victims of the war, will require serious investments by the Ukrainian state and the international community for many decades to come.
The international platform CivilMPlus stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their struggle for freedom, independence and democracy and calls on the international community for collective active and diverse support of Ukraine based on the following principles:
4. The demilitarization of the regime in Russia, the democratization of the country, the rejection of the imperial ideology and the real right to self-determination will be important elements to avoid the resumption of Russia’s expansionist policy in the future.
—
The CivilMPlus platform is an association of independent non-governmental organizations and experts from different countries and with different views that supports the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. The actions and positions of the platform participants are based on the values of freedom and democracy, which Ukrainians are defending today.
—
The text of the statement does not necessarily reflect the position of all CivilMPlus member organizations.
For additional information or media inquiries, please contact Artem Danylchenko, Communications Coordinator – [email protected].
The post CivilMPlus platform statement on the anniversary of the start of the full-scale Russian invasion first appeared on CivilMPlus.]]>As representatives of Ukrainian civil society and its European partners, we welcome the international efforts for peace as well as the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and also the willingness of states to help Ukraine in its reconstruction. However, we also have clear expectations of the international community.
Decisions on Ukraine not over Ukrainian heads
Russian aggression against Ukraine did not start on 24 February this year, but already with the invasion of Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014. The past teaches us: a political freezing of the conflict does not end the war, but prolongs it into the future. At the same time, it hinders Ukraine’s development. It is therefore right to leave it up to Ukraine to decide when to negotiate and under what conditions. The international demands for peace must be directed at the Russian side: immediate ceasefire, complete withdrawal of the Russian army and the full restoration of Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty within the borders of 1991. Furthermore, comprehensive security guarantees are needed to prevent possible new conflicts. Ukraine’s overwhelming will for European and Euro-Atlantic integration must be taken into account.
Ukraine’s vibrant civil society and its involvement in the reconstruction of the country
Ukraine is home to a particularly active civil society which has been a guarantor of the country’s democratic development for many years. Whenever democratic principles were undermined by fraud or corruption, civil society offered resolute resistance. And it has always accompanied political reforms critically and constructively. It protects human rights, provides political education and articulates socio-political developments and needs from Ukraine. Even in the ongoing war, Ukrainian civil society contributes significantly to the country’s resilience against the invasion. It provides humanitarian aid, document war crimes, organize the exchange of information and also mobilize international political, military, humanitarian and financial support for Ukraine.
The potential of this civil society should be used now – during the war – and also in the reconstruction of Ukraine, its ongoing need for democratization and the country’s European integration. Civil society in Ukraine can make a decisive contribution if it is closely involved in decision-making at all levels.
The united and decisive support of the entire democratic world is required to stop the Russian aggression. For a free and democratic Ukraine and for a peaceful coexistence of democratic nations!
The post CivilMPlus calls on the G20 to restore international order, support Ukraine and involve civil society in the reconstruction process first appeared on CivilMPlus.]]>The international independent civil society platform CivilMPlus states that the repetition of Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories, as happened with Crimea in 2014, is another case of gross violations of international laws guaranteeing territorial integrity and sovereignty, both for Ukraine and other states that have become the object of Russian aggression since Vladimir Putin came to power.
We call on politicians, public figures and citizens of the countries of the world to publicly condemn the annexation of the occupied Ukrainian territories and to hold the Russian leadership accountable for these actions. The lack of a proper reaction from the international community to the co-opting of a sovereign state’s territories through military aggression creates dangerous precedents for the fulfillment of territorial ambitions by other states and provokes further destabilization of the global security architecture.
Vladimir Putin and his accomplices are personally responsible for the lives and well-being of millions of Ukrainians who became victims of the treacherous military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army, who lost loved ones, their homes and health, chances for education and a peaceful childhood during the war. Having unleashed a bloody war on the territory of a neighboring state, the leadership of the Russian Federation is damaging peaceful development on the European continent, taking away huge resources from victim support in the world’s crisis regions and developing countries and the prevention of global catastrophes, and at the same time is destroying the foundations of peace and prosperity in Russia itself, instilling fear and forcing citizens to leave their own country. Strategists, propagandists and executors of the Russian military expansion policy will answer for their actions before an international tribunal.
Active, consistent and comprehensive support for Ukraine in repelling the armed attack, restoring territorial integrity and infrastructure, and developing a democratic, inclusive society is a natural response to the Kremlin’s post-colonial policy. The restoration of international norms and the protection of the democratic rights and freedoms of the civilian population of Ukraine are a fundamental guideline for political decision-making by international institutions and the political elites of democratic states.
Ukrainian society needs active, daily and decisive support, including political, military, humanitarian and financial assistance. Ahead of us is the #WinterofSolidarity – solidarity with Ukrainians who have lost warm housing, an established and peaceful life, as well as with all those affected by the war.
When speaking about Russia, it is important to distinguish between the political regime with its accomplices and supporters and that part of the population that does not support the war and the imperialist ideology behind it. We call on Russian society, both inside and outside the country, to recognize its responsibility for the actions taken on behalf of the Russian people, for their devastating consequences, and to actively oppose the crimes of the Russian state in Ukraine and other countries.
—
The CivilMPlus platform is an association of public organizations and experts from different countries and with different views that supports the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. The actions and positions of the platform participants are based on the values of freedom and democracy, which Ukrainians are defending today.
The international independent civil society platform CivilMPlus was established in 2017 through the efforts of civil activists from different countries. It includes organizations and experts from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, France, Russia and other European countries.
—
The text of the statement does not necessarily reflect the position of all CivilMPlus member organizations.
For additional information or media inquiries, please contact Artem Danylchenko, Communications Coordinator – [email protected]
The post Statement of the CivilMPlus platform in connection with the annexation of the occupied territories of Ukraine by Russia first appeared on CivilMPlus.]]>Since September 23, 2022, Russia has been holding fictitious “referendums” on joining Russia in the parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine seized by Russian troops. In the same territories, the forced mobilization of local residents by Russia continues, and on September 21, at the same time as the “referendums” were announced, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the partial mobilization of Russians.
The international independent civil society platform CivilMPlus, which brings together civil society actors in Europe to overcome Russia’s war against Ukraine and establish a democratic peace in Europe, strongly condemns such actions:
We call on governments and civil societies around the world, in particular the G7 countries, the European Union and its member states to:
We support the statements of the Ukrainian authorities on the non-prosecution of residents of the occupied territories of Ukraine who have been forcibly mobilized by Russian forces, have not committed crimes and voluntarily surrendered.
Support for Ukraine’s struggle against the Russian invasion to preserve its independence and territorial integrity, as well as its post-war reconstruction and democratic development is a prerequisite for achieving sustainable peace, security and prosperity in Europe. Another condition for this is the end of the current regime in Russia, its transition to a democratic path of development and the rejection of imperial ideology.
—
The text of the statement does not necessarily reflect the position of all CivilMPlus member organizations.
For additional information or media inquiries, please contact Artem Danylchenko, Communications Coordinator – [email protected]
—
The international independent civil society platform CivilMPlus was established in 2017 through the efforts of civil activists from different countries. It includes organizations and experts from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, France, Russia and other European countries.
As an association of public organizations and experts from different countries and with different views, the CivilMPlus platform supports the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. The actions and positions of the platform are based on the values of freedom and democracy, for which millions of Ukrainians risk their lives every day.
The post CivilMPlus platform statement on Russia holding so-called “referendums” in the occupied territories of Ukraine first appeared on CivilMPlus.]]>The undersigned participants of the international independent civil society platform CivilMPlus and the European, including Ukrainian, civil society organisations declare their full support for granting Ukraine the status of a candidate country for European Union membership and call on the EU member states to approve Ukraine’s application for it.
Cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union began more than 28 years ago with the signing of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, continued within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and reached its most active phase in 2014 with the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. In 2013-2014, Ukrainian society made its choice to follow the principles of freedom, democratic values and a European path of development. The undeniable evidence of that was shown with the protests that went down in history as the ‘Revolution of Dignity’. Since 2014, and especially since 24 February 2022, Ukrainians have demonstrated their willingness to defend this choice, even at the cost of their own lives. Despite the difficulties caused by Russian aggression and thanks to international support, Ukraine has shown significant progress over the last eight years in the development of democratic institutions, civil society and reforms. Since 2014, Ukraine has considerably advanced in adapting its legislation to EU standards and reforms in various areas – from energy and transport, decentralisation of power, human rights and equality, to the judiciary system and the launch of anti-corruption mechanisms.
We believe that these reform successes provide a sufficient basis for Ukraine to be formally granted EU candidate country status. Ukraine does not expect exemptions due to the war. The Ukrainians’ heroic resistance to the armed aggression by the Russian Federation is, among other things, proof of their commitment to the values of democracy and European ideals, which the Ukrainian people are not prepared to abandon even at the risk of death. The need to defend independence and the right to self-determination has reinforced the active development of civil society and self-government structures – institutions that usually take much longer to develop in times of transformation, and are key to stabilising the democratic foundations of the state.
The granting of candidate status gives Ukraine the green light to undertake an ambitious and comprehensive agenda of reforms in close cooperation with the EU. The duration of this process largely depends on Ukraine itself. At the same time, the incentives of candidate status will help Ukraine continue its reforms and give current EU member states a strong, progressive, democratic neighbour that shares the legal values of Europe’s common space.
The EU’s support for Ukraine’s reforms and the identification of prerequisites for the start of future accession negotiations is an important and necessary signal for a young democracy that has been subjected to post-colonial policies by the neighbouring authoritarian regime of the Russian Federation.
Granting candidate status will give a major impetus to Ukraine’s reforms, send a signal to investors and help facilitate the country’s post-war recovery. Greater economic and political stability in Ukraine will reduce the need for EU financial assistance in the future. Yet candidate status does not imply any additional EU funding.
Approval of Ukraine’s application will demonstrate the reliability, consistency and clear perspective of the European community’s support for countries that have chosen the democratic path of development, and will reinforce democratic trends in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. It would thus set a positive precedent motivating democratic and opposition forces in Russia and Belarus to act.
Granting candidate country status to Ukraine is a practical affirmation of the EU’s willingness to signify its unity in a peaceful way and to reject the communication based on ultimatums and blackmail regarding its foreign and domestic policies.
Non-governmental organisations from European, including Ukrainian, civil societies are confident that the urgent granting of candidate status to Ukraine is the right and effective signal to democratic and pro-European forces throughout Eastern Europe and will have a positive impact on the development and strengthening of the EU itself in the future.
The statement is signed by:
Assemblée Européenne des Citoyens (France)
Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine)
Centre of Public Initiatives “Ideas for Change” (Ukraine)
Country of Free People (Ukraine)
DRA e.V. (Germany)
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland)
International Partnership for Human Rights (Belgium)
Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (Ukraine)
MEMORIAL Deutschland e.V. (Germany)
Truth Hounds (Ukraine)
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (Ukraine)
___
For additional information or to sign the statement, please contact Artem Danylchenko, Communications Coordinator – [email protected]
The independent international civil society platform CivilMPlus was established in 2017. It includes organisations and experts from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and France.
CivilMPlus in social media:
The post Open Statement of the participants of CivilMPlus platform and European civil society organisations on granting Ukraine EU candidate status first appeared on CivilMPlus.]]>We call on Russia and its leadership to immediately stop the aggression and start full-fledged peace negotiations.
From the very beginning of the new large-scale escalation of the war, the work of the platform has been focused on supporting our Ukrainian participants and their partner networks, who, together with millions of other Ukrainians, directly feel all the horrors of the war and the crimes of the Russian army and other security forces.
We have also launched active advocacy activities aimed at ensuring support of Ukraine by the countries of the European Union.
Now Ukraine is waging a hard fight not only for its own survival, but for the survival of the entire free and democratic world, literally defending universal values. The unity of the EU member states in the issue of unequivocal and resolute support for Ukrainians is extremely important, namely:
Many EU member states and their societies provide excellent examples of strong support of Ukraine’s defensive capability. At the same time, the leading economies of the European Union – Germany and France – still consider it possible to do business with Russia or not provide effective support to Ukraine, especially in matters of arms supplies.
The understanding in Western societies of the threat that Russia poses now and the role that Ukraine is playing in taking the brunt of Putin’s war machine is a prerequisite for the security of the inhabitants of Western democracies in the future.
Statements by some Western European politicians that the responsibility for the war lies solely with Putin are an unforgivable simplification in matters of personal and collective responsibility for unleashing and waging an aggressive war, war crimes and violations of international law. Today, millions of Russians bear collective and personal responsibility both for starting the war in Ukraine and for its speedy end. In the future, the Russian people will have to compensate for the losses of Ukraine.
Russia’s losses in this war are not only soldiers and huge amounts of funds spent on armaments, but also an outflow of human resources, in particular a large number of representatives of Russian civil society, journalists, academic circles with a critical vision of the actions of their government, who were taking an anti-war position and conducting activities aimed at supporting Ukraine, observation of the international law by Russia and change of the attitude of Russian society towards war.
We sincerely wish Ukraine a speedy victory in this war for freedom, law and justice!
Glory to Ukraine and its defenders!
The member organisations of the platform that have signed this statement:
International Partnership for Human Rights (Belgium)
MEMORIAL Deutschland e.V. (Germany)
DRA e.V. (Germany)
Assemblée Européenne des Citoyens (France)
Centre of Public Initiatives “Ideas for Change” (Ukraine)
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (Ukraine)
Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine)
Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (Ukraine)
Country of Free People (Ukraine)
Luhansk Oblast Human Rights Center “Alternativa” (Ukraine)
Truth Hounds (Ukraine)
___
For additional information or media inquiries, please contact Artem Danylchenko, Communications Coordinator – [email protected]
The independent international civil society platform CivilMPlus was established in 2017. It includes organisations and experts from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and France.
CivilMPlus in social media:
The post Position of the participants of the CivilMPlus platform on EU assistance to Ukraine first appeared on CivilMPlus.]]>To find out ways to help please follow: https://bit.ly/3tjX6K7
Remember, our joint effort can help to make a difference!
The post How to help Ukraine? Useful links to initiatives and organisations first appeared on CivilMPlus.]]>
We call on the world community to IMMEDIATELY:
– Introduce a no-fly zone over Ukraine
– Disconnect ALL banks in Russia and Belarus from SWIFT
Russian, Belarusian people – do what you can to stop the war – go out to protest, make the authorities hear you, don’t let your media trick you!
The post Putin! Stop the war! first appeared on CivilMPlus.]]>The International Independent Civil Society Platform CivilMPlus, whose mission is to jointly work towards conflict resolution in eastern Ukraine, condemns the decision of the Russian leadership to recognise the independence of the so-called ‘Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics’.
This decision is a gross violation of international law, as well as of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It completely contradicts the commitments made by Russian officials as part of the Minsk agreements. It jeopardises the continuation of the peace negotiations towards conflict resolution at the diplomatic level.
We call on the international community, in particular the member states of the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and other democratic countries to:
– Immediately respond and enforce the threat of sanctions that have been announced, especially the ones directly related to assets and affecting the economic interests of the Russian political elite outside the Russian Federation.
– Provide full support to Ukraine in the economic and political spheres, as well as ensuring that air corridors between Ukraine and its western neighbours are maintained.
We welcome the German Government’s decision to halt the certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, but this measure is not sufficient, the project must be formally abandoned.
We call on civil society and media representatives to:
– Actively engage in the processes of monitoring human rights violations related to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
– Document the spread of fake information about the situation in and around Ukraine and the armed conflict, including any attempts to discredit or manipulate democratic institutions. This also refers to false interpretations of international norms in order to try to justify the presence of Russian armed forces in Ukraine.
– Identify the presence of the Russian leadership’s assets abroad and work with local state authorities to ensure they are sanctioned.
Preserving people’s lives and guaranteeing their safety is an absolute priority for all involved in the political decision-making process. We call on the parties to the conflict to ensure a humanitarian corridor between the controlled and non-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts to provide the free movement of people and humanitarian goods.
—
The text of the statement does not necessarily reflect the position of all CivilMPlus member organisations.
For additional information or media inquiries, please contact Artem Danylchenko, Communications Coordinator – [email protected]
The independent international civil society platform CivilMPlus was established in 2017. It includes more than 20 organisations and experts from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Russia and France. Within CivilM+, they contribute to the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbas: informing the governments and the public of their countries about the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, implementing projects in the fields of peacekeeping, transitional justice, dialogue and human rights.
CivilMPlus in social media:
The post CivilMPlus platform statement on the need to actively counter the escalating conflict in eastern Ukraine and provide reliable support for Ukraine from the international community first appeared on CivilMPlus.]]>Potential escalation and continuation of the armed conflict that has been going on for the last 8 years would lead to victims and destruction that could be and must be avoided. The conflict is contrary to the interests of the societies of both the countries involved and of the rest of Europe.
Amid the continuing escalation of the situation by the Russian leadership and the increasing military presence of Russian troops near Ukraine’s borders, we urge the leadership of the Russian Federation:
Platform members call on the Russian leadership and Russian-controlled forces in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to:
We support the efforts made by the German and French governments to resume talks in the Normandy format with the leadership of Ukraine and Russia.
CivilMPlus calls on all sides of the Normandy talks to demonstrate maximum commitment to accelerate peace and find ways to stop the ongoing aggression in eastern Ukraine as soon as possible. We also call on political leaders involved in restoring peace to engage in ongoing consultations with international civil society, which has the most up-to-date information on security, humanitarian and other relevant issues in a region that suffers daily from conflict.
Platform members commend the active position of many European Union countries in supporting Ukraine. The war that is already taking place in Ukraine has a direct impact on the whole of Europe, and an exacerbation of the conflict will have even more negative consequences. This includes countries that are not directly involved in the conflict, but which would suffer from security risks and financial losses.
In order to avoid a new armed conflict, it is important for all democratic countries to speak jointly with one voice about the costs for Russia in case of a new breach of international norms. Economic sanctions can raise that price considerably. Economic cooperation presupposes trust on all sides, and a partner that foments war cannot have it. We believe that no preferences or any exemptions from the generally accepted certification procedure as required by the EU Third Energy Package and German law should be granted to the operator of Nord Stream 2. In case the situation escalates further and Russia foments war, the project should be abandoned altogether.
CivilMPlus believes that EU member states, the US, the UK, Canada and others need to continue to support Ukraine systematically in promoting internal stability and democratic reforms and developing its economy and trade relations, both in the current situation of an external threat and in the long term.
We urge the leadership of Ukraine to send a clear message to residents of the NGCAs that they remain citizens of Ukraine and part of a unified Ukrainian society. Ensuring that residents of the NGCAs have access to government services remotely, as well as the implementation of dialogue projects with their participation, can be such a signal. An important element of Ukraine’s policy on the conflict must remain the detailed design and implementation of a transitional justice concept that will contribute to a stable peace in the east of the country.
—
The text of the statement does not necessarily reflect the position of all CivilMPlus member organisations.
For additional information or media inquiries, please contact Artem Danylchenko, Communications Coordinator – [email protected]
The independent international civil society platform CivilMPlus was established in 2017. It includes more than 20 organisations and experts from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Russia and France. Within CivilM+, they contribute to the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbas: informing the governments and the public of their countries about the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, implementing projects in the fields of peacekeeping, transitional justice, dialogue and human rights.
CivilMPlus in social media:
The post CivilMPlus platform statement on the need to avoid the escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and to provide reliable support to Ukraine first appeared on CivilMPlus.]]>