Maidan / Maidan News

Ukrainian Site

26-11-2004 15:51 Maidan-INFORM
American Association for Ukrainian Studies: Letter

Print version // Edit // Delete // URL: http://maidan.org.ua/static/enews/1101477100.html

Fellow scholars, students and others who are fighting for democracy in Ukraine,

We write to tell you that the American Association for Ukrainian Studies supports you in your struggle for civil liberties and democracy in Ukraine.

As scholars and professionals working in the field of Ukrainian Studies and related disciplines throughout the United States and Canada, we have for some time seen evidence that Ukrainian democracy is in crisis. This week's events confirmed our fears. A concerted and forceful program of election-day fraud and abuse was enacted with either the leadership or cooperation of governmental authority. In response, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have taken to the streets in peaceful protests over a national election that observers throughout the world have called deeply flawed and marked by serious irregularities.

We extend our deep moral support to all Ukrainians. In particular, we applaud the efforts of fellow scholars, students and others in Ukraine's universities who--at great personal risk--have taken the lead in initiating acts of civil disobedience. We know you are not just protesting this stolen election. You are also protesting the numerous indignities that you have suffered during the last ten years of Kuchma's rule, indignities that have marked the steady erosion of Ukrainian democracy.

We applaud your peaceful fight for democracy in Ukraine. And we condemn unlawful efforts by Leonid Kuchma and his supporters to repress the peaceful actions Ukrainians have taken against government leaders who are breaking the fundamental laws of the state.

We call on the Parliament and the Supreme Court of Ukraine to take meaningful steps towards ensuring that Ukraine's laws and the will of the people are respected. And we urge our own governments to support Ukrainians at this critical moment in the history of their young democracy. Please do not let democracy die in Ukraine -- continue to stand up for your dignity and for your civil liberties!

The American Association for Ukrainian Studies

President
Myroslava Tomorug Znayenko, Rutgers University (USA)

Vice President
Alexandra Hrycak, Reed College (USA)

Executive Board

Vitaly Chernetsky, Harvard Ukrainian ResearchInstitute, Harvard University
(USA)

Andriy Danylenko, Department of Modern Languages & Cultures
Pace University (USA)

Alexander Dillon, Ukrainian Catholic University (USA/Ukraine)

Marta Dyczok, University of Western Ontario (Canada)

George G. Grabowicz, Harvard University (USA)

Alexander J. Motyl, Rutgers University (USA)

Print version // Edit // Delete // URL: http://maidan.org.ua/static/enews/1101477100.html