Human Rights Centre of the University of Padua to stop violence in Ukraine

We strongly condemn violence, repression and  dictatorial regime in Ukraine. The Ukrainian people has the fundamental right to self-determination. We express deep solidarity to Ukrainian nonviolent protesters and human rights defenders. We urge the Italian Government, the European Union, the OSCE and the United Nations to combine their efforts to facilitate the democratic settlement of the conflict.

prof. Marco Mascia
University of Padua
Director, University Human Rights Centre

prof. Antonio Papisca
University of Padua
UNESCO Chair Human Rights, Democracy and Peace

Open Appeal to the Leaders of the Western Countries, International Organizations, Diplomats

Dear colleagues,

In late November 2013 I pleaded to immediately take efficient financial sanctions against Yanukovich himself and his oligarchs. At the same time I predicted Ukraine’s imminent descent into Syrian scenario in the absence of such sanctions. We all can plainly see that this prediction is coming true. Why shouldn’t it? Everything is so simple, just like in Syria:

1. the same Putin organizing and financing the massacre;

2. the same inefficient repressive kleptocratic regime lead by a man with so many crimes on his hands that no guarantees of his can persuade anyone;

3. total impossibility for the citizens to achieve justice in court or any change through elections;

4. lack of effective international support.

Had the timely personal sanctions been put in action, had the Association Agreement been signed, the bloody repression could have been avoided.

Humanitarian consequences of “serious concerns” and destabilization of the whole continent are obvious and easily predicted. Please do not pretend that another statement can stop the bloody massacre and subsequent military intervention by Putin against the backdrop of total destabilization.

Negotiations for the last four weeks have become a trap for the opposition and the protesters. Yanukovich used them for regrouping his forces, crushing the remnants of the internal resistance in his own ranks, and suppressing the civil resistance. Further continuation of such negotiations without substantial “motivation” to achieve results on the part of the civilized world is too precious for it already costs the Ukrainians dozens of lives daily.

If I dare, may I remind everyone who strives to play their part in resolution of the Ukrainian question that Chamberlain did not make history as a great diplomat and peacemaker. History knows him as an incompetent coward, a man who plunged his country into war on the worst possible terms dragging behind it the whole planet. What Putin does through his puppets in Ukraine and Syria are absolutely not some innocent games, but crimes against humanity condemned in Nuremberg.

Let me remind you that in the territory of Ukraine pass strategic pipelines, there are 22 nuclear power plant blocks, and countless other objects of international importance. And the people who sincerely believed that Europe meant prosperous future.

Sincerely,

Secretary of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Ukrainian Parliament
Member of PACE
Fighter against corruption
Humanitarian activist

Lesya Orobets