Human rights activists in the United States asking to ensure the safety of mourning in Odessa
2 may in 22 cities in 13 countries rallies on the occasion of the anniversary of the tragic death of 48 people in the House of trade unions.
NEW YORK, may 2. /TASS/. American human rights activists have prepared an open letter to the state Department and the Ukrainian authorities to ensure the safety of participants of the mourning events in Odessa on the occasion of the anniversary of the tragic death of 48 people in the House of trade unions. This is stated in a statement on Tuesday the statement of the coordinator of the project “Campaign of solidarity with Odessa” of the United national antiwar coalition (ONAC, UNAC), Phil Wilayto.
“The campaign of solidarity with Odessa” urges the Federal government of Ukraine and the USA, as well as the authorities of Odessa to ensure that you comply with the civil rights of those who will attend the upcoming commemorative events in the city, including delegations of international observers that will be present in this day, — the letter says. — In Odessa on may 2 will be held memorial service to honor the memory of dozens of activists who advocated for democracy, they were brutally murdered on this day four years ago in the House of trade unions.
As highlighted in the document, participants in these commemorative events in Odessa “are often subjected to harassment by groups of right-wing”. It is noted that on April 26 the members of the “associations of neo-Nazis held in Odessa press conference” at which he announced plans of holding events in the city. These persons, according to Wileyto, expressed views similar to those followed by the Nazis during the Second world war.
“The tragedy in Odessa and continued in this beautiful city, the danger of violence by supporters of right-wing causes for grave concern to all decent people in the world”, — stated in the message. In this regard, according to Wileyto Wednesday in 22 cities in 13 countries will be in solidarity with Odessa. As noted in the letter, they will be held in Russia (Moscow, Sevastopol), Austria (Vienna), UK (London), Hungary (Budapest), Germany (Berlin, Hamburg), Denmark (Copenhagen), Ireland (Dublin), Italy (Rome), the Netherlands (the Hague), USA (Blacksburg, Washington DC, Minneapolis, new York, Albany, Richmond, San Francisco), Czech Republic (Prague), Switzerland (Bern) and Sweden (malmö and Stockholm).
As explained, Wileyto, the participants of the project “Campaign of solidarity with Odessa”, in particular, in favour of an impartial investigation into the events that occurred 4 years ago in the House of trade unions.
About the tragedy in Odessa
In Odessa on 2 may 2014, the radical “Right sector” (organization banned in Russia) and the so-called self-defense “Maidan” attacked Kulikovo field activists who were collecting signatures for a referendum on the federalization of Ukraine and granting Russian language a state status. Supporters of federalization were forced to hide in the House of trade unions, but radicals surrounded him and lit it. Blocked in the building of people trying to escape, jumping out of Windows from different floors, and the radicals continued to throw stones and bottles with an incendiary mix. In those tragic events has killed 48 people, more than 240 were injured.
The authorities acknowledged the instigators of the riots, 22 people, arrested solely of supporters of the “Maidan”.