November 10, 2011
PRESS RELEASE
UWC PRESIDENT MEETS WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE OSCE OFFICE FOR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS JANEZ LENARCIC
On November 3, 2011, the President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), Eugene Czolij, met with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Janez Lenarcic, in Warsaw, Poland.
This was the second meeting this year between the UWC President and the OSCE/ODIHR Director to discuss issues of importance to the Ukrainian community. Topics included the deterioration of democracy in Ukraine and the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the pressure being exerted on the political opposition and mass media, and the joint opinion of the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR regarding the draft law “On electionof People’s Deputies of Ukraine.” Also discussed were issues related to the Ukrainian national minority in Russia, specifically the liquidation of the Federal National Cultural Autonomy of Ukrainians of Russia whose case is currently before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, and the pending liquidation case of the Union of Ukrainians in Russia.
The UWC President called upon the OSCE/ODIHR Director to continue demanding that Ukrainian authorities adhere to democratic principles and release the leader of the opposition, Yulia Tymoshenko, and the former Minister for Internal Affairs, Yuri Lutsenko, from prison. He also called on the Director to monitor the draft election lawand ensure the participation of OSCE international observers in the 2012 Parliamentary elections in Ukraine. Eugene Czolij also emphasized the importanceofmonitoring the liquidation proceedings before the Russian courtsregarding the Union of Ukrainians in Russia.
