On the Third Anniversary of the Full-Scale Invasion, People Across the World Called for the Release of the Kremlin’s Prisoners
On 22-23 February, most cities in the world where Ukrainians live now witnessed mass events dedicated to the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. People demanded that the war against Ukraine be recognized as genocide, justice be done for all victims of the war, and the aggressor be punished appropriately. They also called upon the international community to support the Ukrainians’ fight for democratic values, freedom and the right to independently decide on their development.
At many rallies in Toronto, New York, Athens, Bordeaux, Prague, Udine, the Italian province of Marche, and other places, Ukrainians participated in the action to support the international campaign People First! demanding the release of all Kremlin’s prisoners – prisoners of war, unlawfully detained civilians and political prisoners – and the return of all unlawfully deported Ukrainian children.
“President Trump started the process of peaceful negotiations because, as he put it, he did care and was worried about people dying in war. If it is true, then he should be worried about the hundreds of Ukrainians detained in Russian prisons. I talked to these people, one woman told me how they plucked out her eye with a spoon. “Ukrainian children are being re-educated in Russian camps by being told that they are now Russians and that their own country has abandoned them,” comments Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties.
The rallies also included “People Are the Key” performances with participants loudly rattling their house and office keys to demand that thousands of people unlawfully detained by Russia be released.
“A key to the house everyone has in their pocket or handbag is such a simple thing symbolising both home and freedom at the same time. A home our prisoners have not seen for years. “People are the key” is the campaign slogan as our people are our most valuable treasure”, says Oleksandr Yavorskyi, co-founder of Nevhamovni agency, which created the performance concept pro bono.
We thank all the Ukrainians who care and, wherever they are, do their utmost to achieve justice and sustainable peace and to have the Kremlin’s prisoners returned home.
In particular, we thank our partners:
Ukrainian World Congress
Ukrainian Youth Association
Ukrainian Institute in Prague
NGO “Forum of Cultures” (Prague)
Associazione Ucraina – Firenze “LILEA”
German-Ukrainian Society of Freiburg
Association of Ukrainians in Poland
The House of Ukraine Association in France
Trembita Centre for the Support and Development of Ukrainian Cultural Heritage (Athens)
House of Ukraine (San Diego)
Associazione culturale Ucraina-Friuli (Udine)
Borysthenes Non-Profit Organisation (Athens)
Greece-Ukraine Business Hub (Athens)
Comunidad Ucraniana (Barcelona)
Maple Hope Foundatіon
The Ukrainian communities in Marche, Toronto, Prague, Bordeaux, Athens, Barcelona, Milan, Vancouver, Florence, New York, Katowice, Dublin, Madrid, San Diego, London, Paris, Warsaw, Brno, Buenos Aires, Lisbon, Nice, Helsinki, Edinburgh, Porto, Washington, Capetown, Ankara and throughout the world, for their solidarity and fight for our common values. The People Are the Key performance is a part of the People First! international campaign demanding the release of prisoners of war, unlawfully detained civilians, deported Ukrainian children and political prisoners kept by Russia. The Nobel Peace Prize winners, the Center for Civil Liberties and Memorial, initiated this campaign, supported by over 40 other human rights organisations and networks from different countries.
