We, the undersigned civil society organizations from Georgia and Ukraine, believe that Russia’s ongoing military invasion of Ukraine represents unprovoked and unjustified aggression against a sovereign state, and is an attempt to dismantle European and Global Security architecture, which requires the strongest possible response of the international community. Ukraine today demonstrates a remarkable example of courage fighting with one of the most powerful military machines in the World, and it is the duty of the Democratic world, to stand up for Ukraine in this uneven battle.
Georgia has also fallen victim to Russian aggression in 2008, and Putin’s regime largely got away with it. What we witness today, is to a large extent, a result of that very lenience of the West back then. The Democratic World cannot afford to make the same mistake again and it should adequately respond to this flagrant aggression in the heart of Europe.
We, Georgian and Ukrainian civil society representatives, would like to call on the Civil Society representatives globally, to join our address to all governments of the World to respond in a strict, unified, and forceful way to this brazen and criminal act of Russia. In the circumstances when innocent lives are being lost and the infrastructure and economy of the country are being destroyed, there is no time for half-measures. Putin’s regime should pay a severe price for these crimes.
Therefore, we call on the governments of the democratic world to:
- Impose strongest possible measures against Russian Federation, with the aim to force it to cease military actions as soon as possible;
- Continue increasing defense capabilities of Ukraine, including providing anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense systems, and ensuring Ukraine’s air defense through other means, including establishing and enforcing no-fly zones above certain parts of Ukrainian territory under Kiev’s control as requested by President Zelenskyy
- Provide financial and humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine, inside and outside the country
- Enact welcoming conditions to refugees from Ukraine
We believe that Ukraine is fighting this war for the whole continent and the democratic world, and it is our duty to show support to the heroic people of Ukraine. The time to act is now!
Слава Україні!
Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia)
Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF)
Institute for Democracy and Safe Development (IDSD)
Society and Banks
Georgian Farmers Association
Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC)
Green Alternative
Atlantic Council of Georgia
Media Development Foundation (MDF)
Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS)
Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA)
International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)
Sapari
In Depth Reporting and Economic analysis Center
Governance Monitoring Centre (GMC)
Pen Georgia
Europe Foundation
Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI)
World Experience for Georgia (WEG)
Human Rights Center (HRC)
Empathy
United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG)
Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI)
Liberal Academy
Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)
The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics
Rights Georgia
Georgian Media Club
Coalition for Local Self-Government and Democracy
International Center for Civic Culture
Center of Local Democracy Network
International Association Civitas Georgica
Management systems’ development center
Journalism Resource Center – JRC
Gori Information Centre
Union of Democrat Meskhs – UDM
Independent Journalists’ House
Democratic Development Union of Georgia
Transparency International Ukraine (TI Ukraine)
East Europe Foundation (EEF) Ukraine
Centre for Innovation Development (CID) Ukraine
Center for Sustainable Development Initiatives – CSDI
All-Ukrainian Association of Organizations for People with Disabilities “The league of the strong” («The League of the strong»)
CO “CF “Caritas-Kyiv”
Centre of United Actions (Centre UA)
Center civil initiatives TIRA
Social sinergy NGO
All-Ukrainian NGO Coalition for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NGO Coalition)
Association for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities “Djerela” (“Djerela” Association)
Charitable Organization “100 % of life. Kyiv region”
Charitable Organization “School-Steps”
Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health
Health Right International
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law
Public Organization “Social Synergy”
Public Organization “Ukrainian Child Rights Network”
Public Organization “Family for Persons with Disability”
ICO CF SOS Children’s Villages International Ukrain
Civil Society Institute (CSI)