Kyiv, May 23, 2019
We, the representatives of NGOs, have been actively defending the sovereignty of Ukraine and its national interests in the global information space over the last 5 years and counteracting Russian aggression in the information field. Being engaged in different areas, we are working both on strengthening the civil society and establishing high-quality state institutions capable of constant dialog with the citizens, openly and responsibly reforming the country, making it more resistant to threats.
Our principles and positions remain unchanged. We see our mission in protecting those values that have become the choice of Ukrainian society during the Revolution of Dignity. These include freedom and dignity of humans that take center stage, Ukraine’s independence and protection of Ukrainian statehood, democracy, patriotism, courage, responsibility and honesty as the basic qualities of Ukrainian citizens.
We remain politically unbiased, but are concerned about the first decisions of the newly elected President. Unfortunately, they are currently showing a lack of understanding of the challenges faced by the country. We strongly disagree with the President’s desire to surround himself with the representatives of the regime of the former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, which contradicts the principles of lustration, as well as people without the corresponding competences and those with whom Volodymyr Zelensky has business interests. The last years were too painful for the country for such short-sighted steps to have no consequences. These consequences can become fatal.
As the representatives of civil society, we outline a list of possible “red lines” – if the President crosses them, this will inevitably lead to deterioration in both the internal political and external situation around our country:
Security Issues
Foreign Policy Priorities:
Economic Steps:
Identity: Language, Education, Culture
Mass Media and Information Policy
Functioning of the State
It is through constructive dialog, which also envisaged timely criticism of the authorities, that we have always strengthened Ukraine’s voice in the world and facilitated the support on the part of our international partners.
The fact of crossing these “red lines” will mean that the President does not seek genuine democratic change, does not want to establish a more honest and responsible governance in spite of the fact that he promised this during the election.
Signatories (UPDATED):
Ukrainian Crisis Media Center
Danylo Lubkivskyi, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2014)
Mass Information Institute
Center for Civic Initiatives CEHRIN
Centre for Economic Strategy
NGO Detector Media
NGO Internews-Ukraine
Center for Global Studies “Strategy XXI”
Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”
EuromaidanPress
Texty.org.ua
The Steering Committee of the Ukrainian National Platform for the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
StopFake
Valerii Pekar, entrepreneur, teacher at business schools
CentreUA NGO
Information Portal “Stop Corruption”
Yevhen Stepanenko, head of the Social Theater, host of the program “War and Peace”
Yurii Makarov, writer, Member of the Board of Public Broadcasting Company
NGO “Stop Corruption”
Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine
Irma Vitovskaya, Merited Artist of Ukraine, theater and cinema actress, public figure
Union of Writers of Ukraine
Charity Foundation “Vostok-SOS”
Middle East Studies Center
Ukraine Support Society, Latvia
DEJURE Foundation NGO
NGO “Ukrainian Democracy”
NGO “Revival of the East”
Yevhen Mahda, Director of the Institute of World Politics
Center for Analysis and Strategies
NGO “METHODOLOGY CENTER FOR ATO PARTICIPANTS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, VETERANS AND VOLUNTEERS”
NGO “Association for Democratic Development”
NGO “Active Civil Position”
Modern Art Gallery TryptykhArt
NGO “Visionaries”
Ukrainian University, Washington, USA
International Leadership Foundation, Washington, USA
Leadership of the Ukrainian-Centered Forces of Ukraine and the Diaspora
Kharkiv Independent Media Group “Nakypilo”
UNCD – Ukrainian-Norwegian Center for Democracy
Charitable Foundation “Happy Family”
Myroslav Marynovich, a former political prisoner, a member of the Nestor Group
NGO “Center for Public Activity “Result”
Crimean House
NGO “Ukrainian World”
NGO”UAGroup”
Mishel Tereshchenko, Hlukhiv City Mayor
EastEuropeanDevelopmentInstitute
NGO “Crisis Media Center “Siverskyi Donets”
NGO “Donetsk Institute for Social Research and Political Analysis”
Information Human Rights Center “Edelweiss”
NGO “AGAINST CORRUPTION”
Volodymyr Kryzhanivskyi, Vice-President of the Association of MPs of Ukraine, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine
NGO “Humanitarian Board”
International Charitable Foundation “Maidan Hospital”
Institute of Civil Liberties
Institute for World Policy
NGO “AGAINST CORRUPTION “MAIDAN-ZAKHID”
Charitable Foundation “Academy of Modern Art, Realism and Creative Industries”
NGO “Law Guard”
NGO All-Ukrainian Association “Intelligent Ukraine”
NGO “Initiative Group “Together!”
NGO “Environmental Space of Ukraine”
Ukrainian Catholic University
NGO “All-Ukrainian Patriotic Association “Volunteer Movement of Ukraine”
Tatiana Verheles, Editor in Chief, IAZIK
Information Resistance Group (NGO “Center for Military and Political Studies”)
NGO “Historical Truth”
Elena Tereshchenko, Association of NGOs “KYIV VICHE”
International Volunteer Community InformNapalm
Greencubator
Ukrainian Worldview
NGO “Community Development Fund” (Kramatorsk)
NGO “Joint Objective”
NGO Crisis Media Center “Siverskyi Donets”
ICO “Environment – People – Law”
Social and Political Development Bureau
Alliance for Civil Rights
NGO “Crimean Wave”
NGO “Open University of Maidan” (OUM)
NGO UNCD – Ukrainian-Norwegian Center for Democracy
NGO Ukrainian Science Club
Ukrainian Center for European Policy (UCEP)
NGO “State and Me”
GreenEnergy NGO
Committee of Voters of Ukraine All-Ukrainian NGO
NGO “Association for Development and Security”
Initiative E+
Veteran Association Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union
Congress of National Communities of Ukraine
Yosyf Zisels, a former political prisoner
Healthcare Platform NGO
NGO “Anti-corruption Block of ATO Participants”
Coalition Reanimation Package of Reforms
If you want to join the signatories, fill out the form by the link.