Call for actions in solidarity with Ukrainian pacifist Ruslan Kotsaba

Ukrainian conscientious objector and journalist Ruslan Kotsaba will be on trial again on September 20th. Support Kotsaba with your actions ahead of his trial!

Kotsaba, president of the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, is accused of treason and obstructing military operations for his expressions calling for peace in a video he posted in 2015. In the video, Kotsaba was calling to boycott military mobilisation for the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

Kotsaba had already spent 524 days under arrest for his expressions opposing the war and was duly acquitted in 2016. His retrial is a clearly politically motivated persecution which must end immediately. Furthermore he was attacked by neo-Nazis several times and seriously wounded. For background and more information on Ruslan’s case, see here.

War Resisters’ International (WRI), European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) and Connection e.V. are calling for international actions ahead of Kotsaba’s next hearing, scheduled to take place on September 20th.

What can you do?

• Write to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine demanding an end to his prosecution. You can use our template letter which can be reached here.
• Organize a vigil in front of an Ukrainian embassy or consulate in your country. You can find the list of Ukrainian embassies here.
• Ask politicians in your country to support Ruslan Kotsaba by sending a letter to the Ukrainian authorities and/or the Prosecutor General.

Please contact us about your activities via actionruslankotsaba@Connection-eV.org. 

WRI, EBCO and Connection e.V. are standing in solidarity with Ruslan Kotsaba. We urge the Ukrainian government to end his prosecution and to ensure that all pacifists, in Ukraine, including the activists of Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, are able to freely express their opinions and continue their non-violent activity. We also urge the Ukrainian government to safeguard the right to conscientious objection to military service, according to the European and international standards.