Reminder: UCC Denounces Brutal Attack on Peaceful Protestors

UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CONGRESS DENOUNCES BRUTAL ATTACK

November 30, 2013. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress today denounced the brutal violence perpetrated against the peaceful protestors of “Euromaidan” in Kyiv Ukraine by Berkut special forces, which have left dozens seriously injured.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress condemned the attack on the peaceful demonstrators 
gathered in Kyiv’s Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), who were expressing their desire to integrate into the European Union.

“We thank the Government of Canada for their strong condemnation of the actions by the 
government of Ukraine. We ask all western governments to immediately impose targeted 
economic sanctions against those individuals responsible for these human rights abuses 
in Ukraine, including the freezing of assets and restrictions on visas,” stated UCC National 
President Paul Grod.

We urge Ukrainian authorities to investigate and prosecute those who authorized and executed these acts of violence against the people of Ukraine. We further call for the resignation of the authorities in Ukraine who have deliberately acted against the will and interests of the Ukrainian 

The use of violence against peaceful protesters has sparked resignations by Members of 
Parliament from the governing Party of Regions and the resignation of a senior Ukrainian 
diplomat to Canada, Ms. Natalia Holub.

“We call upon the Ukrainian Canadian community to contact their elected officials to condemn this brutal act. We further call upon all Canadians to support the people of Ukraine through peaceful demonstrations and acts of protest at venues across the country (see attached). “

The UCC will be posting photos and videos on its Facebook and will be posting pictures and videos on the #Euromaidan Canada. Please send links, photos and videos toanna.jacyniak@gmail.com.

For more information, please contact Taras Zalusky at:

taras.zalusky@ucc.ca
UCC National
(613) 232-8822
www.ucc.ca  

DEMONSTRATIONS

Montreal – Monday, December 2, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – Phillips Square

Ottawa – Monday, December 2, 2013 – 6:00 p.m. – Embassy of Ukraine in Canada, 
Winnipeg – Monday, December 2, 2013 – 6:00 p.m. – Manitoba Legislative Grounds

Regina –  Monday, December 2, 2013 – 12:15 p.m. – Legislative Building

UKRAINIAN CANADIAN COMMUNITY DISAPPOINTED WITH
VILNIUS SUMMIT FAILURE  

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) expressed its disappointment with the Government

of Ukraine over its decision to oppose the will of the Ukrainian people and turn its back on 
signing the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement at the Third Summit of the Eastern Partnership in Vilnius (NOVEMBER 29, 2013).

It has become clear that Ukraine’s president, Viktor Yanukovych, arrived in Vilnius without any intention to reach an agreement. This is extremely disappointing since it is counter to the formal position taken by the government of Ukraine, the Parliament of Ukraine and the expressed will of the Ukrainian people, who have peacefully demonstrated on the streets of cities across Ukraine since November 21.

Media reports indicate that European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy had offered President Yanukovych the opportunity to sign the Association Agreement at the summit, even though Kyiv did not fully comply with the EU’s benchmarks.

The UCC was further disappointed to learn that President Yanukovych turned down a plan 
allowing Ukraine to sign the Association agreement at the next EU-Ukraine summit early next year – putting any decision off the table for 2 years until after the 2015 Presidential elections. 

European Commission President Barroso estimated that signing the Association Agreement 
would save Ukrainian business some €500 million ($700million CAD) annually in import duties and would “increase Ukraine’s GDP by more than 6% in the longer term”, while giving “momentum to billion-euro loan negotiations with International Financial Institutions”.