Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Cyprus refuse to disconnect Russia from SWIFT. There are large Ukrainian diasporas in the first three countries. Friends, let’s try to mobilize Ukrainians in these countries. Mass protests are much needed right now!
Berlin, Rome, Budapest, Paris, and Madrid – we ask you to organize long-term demonstrations there with calls not to betray the values of freedom and humanity for the sake of business.
The message is simple – to disconnect Russia from SWIFT!!!
The position of Germany can change under pressure, as it was with Nord Stream. But we have to push towards one goal together.
Let’s launch a movement among Ukrainians abroad – #качнистолицю (shakethecapital)
1) Ask Ukrainians from different cities to come to the capital and organize Maidan. People need to go to a central square. They can go on a hunger strike or they can sing songs, but the amount and the visibility of people matters. You have to work with the EU states using their media and language.
2) Cooperate with other European national organizations (Polish, Georgian, Lithuanian) to mobilize citizens. The Central European coalition can be massive. They will agree.
3) There are a lot of Ukrainian students in many countries. They have to be mobilized too, and these people have to do the same with their classmates.
4) Try to get the support of local parties and public associations – greens, human rights activists, etc. They can involve locals.
5) In many countries, there are parishes of our churches. They are active, and they have excellent transport and organizational capabilities. In addition, the church knows where the smallest community of Ukrainians is and can motivate them to go to the capital. Get organized around churches.
European politics are afraid of public opinion more than losing 0,8% of GDP. Let’s work with it more actively and much closer. If anyone has contacts with the groups of Ukrainians in those countries, please forward them this letter.
Yurii Opoka, Translated by Vitalii Holich
You can read a Ukrainian language version of this story here.
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Lviv Now is an English-language website for Lviv, Ukraine’s «tech-friendly cultural hub.» It is produced by Tvoe Misto («Your City») media-hub, which also hosts regular problem-solving public forums to benefit the city and its people.
