Appeal of the Belarusan civic activists to cease bloodshed in Kyiv

The Belarusan civil society organizations and civic activists issued an open appeal to cease bloodshed in Kyiv.

The European Parliament
The Council of the European Union
The European Commission

The US Congress
Barack Obama, US President

Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations

Viktor Yanukovych, President of Ukraine

The leaders of Ukrainian opposition parties

The people of Ukraine

Appeal of Belarusan civil society organizations and civic activists

These days, when the situation in Ukraine is being no longer controlled bythe opposing forces, when blood is being shed, when there are street fights in Kyiv and weapons are being used, we cannot maintain aloofness. The Ukrainian people are our fraternal nationand we, Belarusans, do understand their problems. In our opinion, the confrontation in Ukraine and its dramatic outcome arethe result of the actions of the authorities that persistently ignore the requirements of the people of Ukraine, that are trusted no longer by the Ukrainians, that pass absurd laws, and that are trying relentlessly to establish a dictatorship in the country. We also believe that the errors of the oppositional politicians and protesters have not allowed them to find a peaceful solution of the situation.

We think that the bloodshed in Ukraine can be stopped now. We are convinced that the termination of violence and hostilities is not going to worsen the protesters’ position and will not lead to their defeat. After all, it is not acts of violence thatmake any protests strong, but protesters’ fidelity to their principles, their readiness to solve problems and self-organization, and we have already seen that the Ukrainian people do have such skills!

We urge the Maidan politicians and leaders to make everything possible in order to regain control over the situation and to convince the protesters to stop violence. The termination of violence does not mean the protesters cannot protect themselves and should leave their positions.

We urge the insurgents to carry out negotiations with anyone who is able to negotiate and to do something, who is able to control the situation even on limited sites — in a certain space of the street actions theater, in power structures, in government structures.

We urge the people of Ukraine not to consider the negotiation processand the political steps, which are still possible and effective today, to be the “playing for time”. Violent acts will not lead to a fast solution of the problem, but will only make the situation uncontrolled.

We urge the power structuresand Ukrainian power to agree to start a real dialogue with the people of Ukraineeven if the people’sdemands seem unacceptable to the authorities.

We urge the law enforcement agents, militia, as well as titushky (subjects hired by the state), to stop prosecutions, abductions, and beatings of the protesters.

We urge all parties involved in the current political crisis in Ukraine to get consolidated and to undertake a peace-support mission. We are sure that the personal presence of representatives of the UN countries and international organizationsthat are interested in the solution of the conflict these days in Kyiv will play the role of anescalation constraining factor and will make it possible to prevent the new and mass slaughter.

Unity, organization, and consistency are the guaranteeof joint successful actions!

Signatures:

Tatyana Novikova, Public Association “Ecohome”, Environmental association “Green Alliance”;

Uladzimir Matskevich, Humanitarian Techniques Agency;

Tatiana Poshevalova, Public Association “Center for social innovations”;

Ina Zhyzneuskaya, Public Association “Ecohome”;

Svetlana Korolyova, public activist;

Ihar Rynkevich, Enlightenment Institution “Democracy Development League “Civic Verdict”;

Siarhei Mackievich, Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs of Belarus;

Vaładar Curpanaủ, Mahiliou Centre “Civic space”;

Ina Kuley, Committee for Defence of the Repressed “Salidarnasc”;

TatsianaVadalazhskaya, Humanitarian Techniques Agency;

Ulad Vialichka, International Consortium “EuroBelarus”;

Ales’ Krot, Human Right Group “Students’ Council”;

Andrei Yahorau, Center for European Transformation;

Andrei Aliaksandrau, journalist;

Taciana Reviaka, Human Rights Centre “Viasna”;

Elena Tonkacheva, Legal Transformation Center;

Olga Smolyanko, Legal Transformation Center;

Galina Cherepok, Legal Transformation Center;

Piotr Kuzniatsou, Gomel Democratic Forum;

Aksana Shelest, Humanitarian Techniques Agency;

Tatsiana Zialko, Public Association of Belarusan Pensioners “Our Generation”;

The Society of Belarusan Students;

Marina Adamovich, public activist, the wife of political prisoner Mikola Statkevich;

Iryna Zhykhar, National Public Association “Belarusan Organization of Working Women”;

father Leonid Akalovich, Belarusan Autocephalous Orthodox Church;

Siarhej Drazdouski, Enlightenment Human Rights Establishment “Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities”;

Enira Bronitskaya, Enlightenment Human Rights Establishment “Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities”;

Ekaterina Sadovskaya, Belarusan branch of Pskov regional public association “Veche”;

Anatoly Shvetsov, Public Association “Protection of Rights of Parents and Children”;

Miroslav Kobasa, Enlightenment Public Association “Leu Sapieha Foundation”;

Andrei Zavadski, Enlightenment Public Association “Leu Sapieha Foundation”;

Zhanna Litvina, Belarusan Association of Journalists;

Dmitry Gomenyuk, Information and Enlightenment Institution “GEDEUS”;

Andrei Shutau, Center for European Transformation;

Leonid Kalitenya, Public Association “Center for social innovations”;

Viachaslau Pilipuk, Business Association “Prospective”;

Yaroslav Bekish, Environmental association “Green Alliance”;

Oleg Volchek, Human Rights Center "Legal Aid to the Population".

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