Since its creation, the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations has been active at the international level, as it acted as a unified ministry of foreign affairs of enslaved nations, primarily Ukraine. An effective network of anti-imperial and anti-communist orientations was established throughout the world.
With the collapse of the red “prison of the nations “, the international activity of the ABN began to gradually decline. A new impetus for the resumption of activity was obtained after a full-scale invasion. ABN was revived in the format of the Anti-Imperial Block of Nations, preserving its strength, traditions and main directions of struggle.
One of the first important steps towards the restoration of systematic international work was the visit of the delegation of the Anti-Imperial Bloc of Nations to the fraternal Republic of Lithuania.
The visit began on 9 March on the 210th anniversary of the birth of Taras Shevchenko, whose fate is closely intertwined with Vilnius. It was in the capital of Lithuania, together with representatives of the Ukrainian community of Vilnius and the leadership of the Lithuanian Seimas, that the ABN delegation laid a wreath of gratitude at the monument to the Great Kobzar.
Subsequently, in the Ukrainian House, located in Vilnius on Shevchenko Street, there was a presentation of the collection “Liquidation of the Russian Empire”, published by the Ukrainian Studios of Strategic Studies, as part of the 11th Bandera Readings. During the presentation, the work of ABN and the Defenсe Fund of Ukraine was also presented to the local mass media.
One of the key moments of the visit was a meeting with the Vice-Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Paulus Saudargas. The head of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (Banderites) Oleh Medunytsya thanked the Lithuanian people for the comprehensive support of Ukraine in the fight against the Moscow occupiers. “Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Lithuania has provided aid to Ukraine of more than 1 billion euros. You sheltered tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees, opened Ukrainian schools, shared weapons and ammunition, became a reliable defender of Ukraine’s interests in the civilized world, – emphasized Oleh Medunytsya, – and now the time has come to become a good advocate for those enslaved nations who remain under imperial occupation.”
The executive director of the Anti-Imperial Block of Nations, Oleh Vitvitskyi, presented the main direction of the ABN’s work, noting that several international events are planned in 2024, dedicated to the topics of decolonization of Russia and support of the national liberation struggle of enslaved nations, in particular in the Baltic countries.
The Vice-Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Paulus Saudargas, thanked the Ukrainian people, expressing admiration for their courage and resilience. He assured everyone that the Lithuanian government, like all citizens of Lithuania, will continue to support the struggle of Ukraine by all available methods. At the same time, Paulus Saudargas expressed interest in the idea of the anti-imperial struggle of enslaved nations, emphasizing Lithuania’s great experience in decolonization.
Decolonization and the struggle against the empire at the modern stage became one of the key topics during the solemn meeting of the Lithuanian Parliament, on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the adoption of the Act on the Restoration of the Independence of Lithuania. Representatives of the ABN delegation took part in this event, along with the Ukrainian military personnel and journalists. During her speech, the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Viktoria Chmilite-Nielsen emphasized the sacred right to freedom of every enslaved nation.
During the visit, Oleh Medunytsia and Oleh Vitvitsky also held a meeting with the leaders of the national liberation movements of the enslaved nations. During the meeting, the key problems of the organization’s activities were announced, cooperation with ABN was discussed, and a joint work plan was outlined.
The final stage of the ABN delegation’s stay was a short stop in Kaunas. In this city, there is a memorial plaque to honour the founder of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, Colonel Yevhen Konovalets, who was a Lithuanian citizen and established a close relationship with the Lithuanian liberation movement.
After honouring the memory of the iron colonel, an agreement was reached to resume cooperation with Lithuanian public structures that support the idea of an anti-imperial struggle. The subject of Yevhen Konovalts and Jonas Zhyamaitis-Vytaus, Stepan Bandera and Juozas Luksha, Yaroslav Stetsko and Adolfas Ramanauskas is being revived, consolidating more and more supporters in their ranks!
