AUCCRO calls on Ukrainians to oppose pogroms and persecutions on ethnic grounds
It is with indignation and anxiety, the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations notes the increase in the number of attacks and pogroms against the Roma. As a result of the last such incident, a murder occurred. On June 26, the AUCCRO issued a statement on pogroms.
“We strongly condemn such acts. This kind of action, no matter by whom they were committed and whatever the slogans were, these cannot be justified, deprive us of our dignity, discredit Ukraine, and therefore is a case that benefits the enemies of our country.
Every inhabitant of our country, regardless of their national, ethnic, religious affiliation, must feel themselves worthy and fully competent citizens of the state, and the state authority must protect their rights and freedoms, first of all, the right to life, health and free development.
At the same time, we are aware of the problems of crimes committed by some Roms and condemn such crimes. However, it is deeply wrong to project one’s indignation with specific criminal acts to the whole nation or ethnic group,” goes the statement of AUCCRO.
The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches calls on Ukrainian citizens to strongly oppose pogroms and persecution on ethnic grounds that has nothing to do with either religious or universal rules and norms.
As reported by RISU, an attack in Lviv, which resulted in the death of a 24-year-old man, David, and three injured people, including a 10-year-old boy, became the latest in a series of brutal acts committed against Roma settlements in the last two months: April 20 at Lysa Gora and on June 7 in Holosiivskyi park in Kyiv, on May 9, in the town of Rudny near Lviv, on May 22 in Velyki Berezovtsi, near Ternopil.
On June 25, the UGCC urged the authorities to punish those responsible for the pogroms of the Roma near Lviv, and Ukrainian citizens “to strongly oppose such behavior.” The community of St. Egidius and bishops of the RCC in Ukraine expressed sharp criticism of attacks on Roma camps on April 26.
