Russian aggression against the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, which is carried out under the guise of fighting “against terrorism and separatism”, caused not only a humanitarian disaster in the North Caucasus, but also a humanitarian disaster at the end of the 20th century. The war “to the last Chechen” is aimed at the physical destruction of the Chechen people, as evidenced by the murders of civilians, in particular refugees, whose convoys were repeatedly “mistakenly” bombarded by Russian aviation, as well as funeral processions, maternity homes, schools, and markets. During punitive actions, called by Moscow “cleansing” of populated areas, federal troops shoot the entire male population, guided by the Stalinist principle “a good Chechen is a dead Chechen.”
The European community strongly condemned the so-called military operations of the federal troops and demanded that Russia immediately end the war in Chechnya and start political methods of conflict resolution. The position of European democracy is reflected in the Istanbul Declaration of the OSCE. Against the background of protests by the international community against Russian expansion in the Caucasus, the position of President L. Kuchma, who, together with O. Lukashenko, supported the “actions of the Russian government in Chechnya” and thus caused moral damage to the reputation of Ukraine, which was traditionally perceived by the peoples of the Caucasus as a bastion of freedom, sounds dissonant. .
The Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations and its Ukrainian Committee declare their solidarity with the Chechen people in their national liberation struggle against imperial Russia, protest against genocidal actions and demand that Moscow stop the war in the Caucasus.
We distance ourselves from the ill-considered statements of President Leonid Kuchma about supporting Russia’s policy in Ichkeria, since the highest value for the Ukrainian people was and is the freedom of the nation and the individual, and we call on the Verkhovna Rada and the government of Ukraine to appeal to the UN Security Council with the demand to apply international sanctions to Russia.
As a member and founder of the World League for Democracy and Freedom (formerly known as the World Anti-Communist League), which is an associate member of the United Nations, the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations appeals through this organization to the international community to take measures against Russia, up to its isolation, in order to end war in Chechnya.
We are with you, people of Ichkeria!
Freedom for Nations! Freedom for the Individual!
Slava Stetsko, President of ABN
November 21, 1999
Kyiv
