Open letter of the Community of Ukrainian-Cypriot Friendship to the officials and politicians of Cyprus
Dear ladies and gentlemen,
The Community of Ukrainian-Cypriot Friendship expresses deep gratitude to the people of Cyprus for the assistance and support provided in your hospitable country to Ukrainians seeking refuge from Russian aggression and the horrors of war against our homeland.
At the same time, with deep regret, disappointment and indignation, we see how the democratic foundations on which the society of the Republic of Cyprus is built are being used by Russian propaganda for their own dirty purposes. One striking example of such propaganda is the so-called celebration of Victory Day by the Russian diaspora in Cyprus, which will once again take place on the picturesque Molos promenade – a favorite spot for walks for the residents of Limassol – on May 9th.
Russian officials skillfully exploit the theme of shared victory in World War II by allied countries. Every nation that paid for victory in this war with the blood of its sons and daughters cannot remain indifferent. Thus, by organizing joint memorial events, Russian diplomats involve their Cypriot counterparts as well. “This is our common victory over Nazism,” they say. Forgetting to mention that the modern Russian leadership has nothing in common with those who defeated Nazism in Europe almost 80 years ago.
It is worth reminding that among the nations of the Soviet Union, it was the Ukrainian and Belarusian republics that bore the brunt of World War II. The territory of Ukraine was fully occupied, cities were bombed, approximately 7 million Ukrainian civilians perished, and about the same number of Ukrainians, constituting 23% of the Red Army of the Soviet Union, fought against the Nazis.
But modern Russia has appropriated victory in World War II for itself. As if in an absurdist theater, Russian officials on Russian television screens claim that they did not manage to defeat all the Nazis 80 years ago, and now they are finishing the job, meaning wiping out Ukrainians and destroying Ukraine. They exploit the theme of the past war to justify the present war – unjust, dishonest, and aggressive – which the Russian leadership has unleashed and is waging against the Ukrainian people. Under the slogans of de-Nazification of Ukraine, Russian occupiers are trying to completely destroy Ukrainian language, culture, national identity, declaring that such a nation does not exist.
In the liberated territories, we have seen tortured, raped, and brutally executed civilians. Ukrainian children, whom Russian occupiers “rescue” but in reality kidnap from the captured territories, change their national identity, and teach them to hate their homeland. For this, the International Criminal Court has already issued an arrest warrant for Russian “children’s ombudsman” Maria Lvova-Belova and Russia’s ruler, Vladimir Putin, whom the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has called to recognize as illegitimate.
With whom do Cypriot politicians celebrate the shared victory over Nazism in Europe? With the Nazis of our time? With whom do Cypriot officials lay flowers at the memorials of World War II? With representatives of a country where the usurper amends the Constitution for himself, suppresses the opposition, and is re-elected for the 5th time against all democratic norms and common sense?
At the Russian community festivities in Limassol last year in 2023, there was symbolism used by Russian military – the Z symbols. In some European Union countries, this symbolism is already banned. It is understandable that these are the countries closest to the Russian border and most keenly feel the threat of Russian invasion in their countries. The Republic of Cyprus is further from the Russian border, but given the number of Russians living in the country, it is worth considering whether tolerance for such celebrations is really safe. For Russian officials, permits for such celebrations are not confirmation of the democratic principles of the Republic of Cyprus; for them, it is a sign of weakness.
Ukraine in the civilized world is now one of the few countries that can understand the pain of the people of Cyprus, which has been suffering from the occupation of its own territory for 50 years. We see that the official position of the leadership of Cyprus is also a manifestation of understanding and empathy towards Ukraine and consists in condemning Russian aggression and occupation. But it’s important to take the next step – to officially condemn the Russian institutions and persons who, being and actively working in Cyprus, celebrated the “accession”, in fact, the occupation of Ukrainian territories last September. They, and no one else, are the organizers of the “celebrations” on May 9. These are the Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots, the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Cyprus, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Cyprus.
We call on the officials of Cyprus to distance themselves as much as possible from Russian politicians, the boards and members of the listed organizations, not to issue permits for events with Russian symbolism, both military and state. Today, the Russian state is usurped by war criminals and Russian Nazis, and is a threat to the civilized world. Do not dabble in the blood of Ukrainians by shaking their hands.
With respect,
Chairwoman of the Community of Ukrainian-Cypriot Friendship
Ksenia Mukhortova