Address of Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions

Today we honor the memory of over half a million Ukrainians - victims of political repressions who suffered brutal tortures and persecution.

Through famines and political repressions, the totalitarian regime tried to destroy the freedom-loving spirit of our nation, its eternal striving for freedom and justice. We bow our heads before the compatriots who died fighting for the right to free thought, the right to be themselves in their native land!

The Maidan has done everything to ensure that no political repressions ever occurred in Ukraine. But today, our compatriots are suffering from aggressive and illegal actions of the totalitarian country for which the term "law" does not exist, because the tyrant substitutes the law.

It seemed that this would never happen again, but the political leadership of Russia today is going through the path of terror and aggression towards citizens of not only their country but also of the neighboring countries. Political repressions, political prisoners in Russian prisons and concentration camps - all this once again is a reality. Roman Sushchenko, Oleg Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko...This list of Ukrainian patriots can be exended...

Our task is to do everything to ensure that all political prisoners and war prisoners kept in jails by Russian aggressor returned home. Totalitarian empires and their fuhrers always have one ending.

Let us remember to avoid repetition! Let us remember to win!