Ukraine : Les citoyens doivent retrouver leur liberté de décision

Ukraine: Ukrainian citizens must
regain their freedom of decision
(Unofficial translation)
Brussels, 7th March 2014
AEDH is worried about the dangerous situation Ukrainian citizens are facing in their
own country, a substantial part of which is under military occupation of foreign troops.
The troops are visibly supported or sent by the Russian government and president
Putin.
This violent intervention aims to put an end to months of Ukrainians fighting to create the
conditions to exit arbitrariness and corruption hoping that this would lead to the establishment
of genuine democratic institutions.
While 2014 is the centenary of the beginning of the First World War and is an opportunity,
throughout the world, to put into perspective a century of violence, war, power politics and
domination, sabre-rattling is coming from Russia.
While we are getting closer to the seventieth anniversary of the Capitulation of 1945, it
should be reminded that the founding of the Council of Europe and the building of the
European Union greatly contributed to open the way to a Europe of peace. For this is the
primary condition for developing the principles of equality in rights and dignity based on
fundamental rights everywhere and for everyone.
AEDH stands up against any military intervention and violence and condemns the
temptation of escalating armed conflicts no one can predict the terrible consequences of, for
all residents of the European continent. Any external intervention would trigger such a
process. It is up to the Ukrainian people alone to decide their own future while respecting
democratic practices.
AEDH calls on the citizens of the European Union, elected officials, and European institutions
to raise their voices and take measures to ensure that Ukrainians remain master of their
destiny and that they can build together a democratic society based on justice and peace,
and respecting human rights.
Contact:
Rafael LARA, chairman
AEDH, Association Européenne pour la défense des Droits de l’Homme
33, rue de la Caserne. B-1000 Bruxelles
Tél : +32(0)25112100 Fax : +32(0)25113200
Email: [email protected]
The European Association for the Defence of Human Rights (Association Européenne
pour la défense des Droits de l’Homme - AEDH) consists of associations and leagues
defending human rights in the countries of the European Union. AEDH is an associate
member of the International Federation of Human Rights (Fédération internationale pour la
défense des droits de l’Homme - FIDH). For more information, visit www.aedh.eu