Oleksandr Korniienko: As we restore Ukraine, we will restore democracy and security in the world

Press Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat
Published on 08 November 2022, at 21:35

The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine delivered a welcoming speech within the framework of his working visit to Strasbourg at the opening of the High-Level Multilateral Dialogue “Good Democratic Governance in Ukraine: Achievements, challenges and the way forward in the post-war period”.

Firstly, the First Vice-Speaker expressed gratitude on behalf of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “for the opportunity to spend three productive days”: in high-level dialogues, in the framework of the World Forum for Democracy “Democracy: New Hope?”, organized by the Council of Europe, and during working meetings with the leadership of the Council of Europe.

The First Vice-Speaker stressed that Ukraine courageously and dignifiedly resists the invader, becoming a fortress on the borders of the European Union from the crazy terrorist Putin regime and waging a liberation war for the right to life and self-determination, for the future of the Ukrainian people, which the aggressor seeks to destroy.

“Speaking of good governance, we must also talk about democracy and elections at all levels, as well as how it should work in the post-war period, how to solve problems,” said Oleksandr Korniienko, adding that the case of Ukraine is unique, because there have been no similar wars on the European continent in recent decades, as well as similar scales of occupation of territories and de-occupation by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The First Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of Ukraine expressed hope for the assistance of the Council of Europe “in solving problematic issues related to the entire spectrum of elections”. “If the basic things are not guaranteed in this process, such as security, clarity, order with the lists and people, such elections will not be recognized as democratic,” said Oleksandr Korniienko, emphasizing that Putin holds undemocratic elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

In addition, Olexandr Korniienko took part in the opening of the photo exhibition “The Price of Ukraine’s Independence”, which presents photographs documenting the crimes committed by Russia, a terrorist state, in Ukraine since February 24. He stressed that, unfortunately, today there is not a single city in Ukraine that has not suffered from the terrible war of Russia against Ukraine: “These are attacks not only on our buildings and streets – these are attacks on democracy and the values that we defend together in the Council of Europe, in Europe, in the civilian world”.

In her turn, Claudia Luciani, Director of the Directorate of Human Dignity, Equality and Governance of the Council of Europe, during the opening of the photo exhibition, emphasized that “it is a great honor to host the distinguished delegation from Ukraine and to spend together two very intensive working days, in particular on the reconstruction of Ukraine”.

“That is why we can stop the aggressor only together – we will win this battle and restore democracy and security in Ukraine and in the world,” the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine summed up.