18 May 2014, 08:00
Dear compatriots!
On this mournful day for Ukraine we are commemorating memory of those who become victims of the Bolshevist regime.
More that eight decades have passed since a flywheel of Stalin’s repressive machine gained full momentum. Millions of innocent people died, destiny of tens of millions was ruined.
During the troubled years anyone could become a victim of the NKVD punishers regardless of their age, nationality, social status, profession or religious beliefs. Crimes of officials of that times destroyed a free word, a though, and a belief in the future.
Despite great losses, our people have survived. Independence, which was so much desired, has been gained. However, now some forces inside and outside the country want revenge and are trying to return to a totalitarian past, to deceive the society, they call back to the empire.
I am sure that these attempts are doomed. We will protect our democratic European choice and our country!
Openness and freedom are the main values of a modern civilized world. Such model of development is a guarantee of a dynamic progress, strong economy, and high social standards. Only a democratic state can respect and protect rights of its citizens.
Every one of us should remember and know grave pages of our history in order for such tragedies never to happen again.
Let’s bow low and pray for eternal peace of those who died because of political repressions and persecution. Bright memory to them.
May we all have unshakable faith in a happy future of our country.
Oleksandr TURCHYNOV