January 12 – the Day of the Ukrainian Political Prisoner.
Today, for us, this date is not only part of the history of the persecution of Ukrainian dissidents by the Soviet authorities, but also a painful present-day reality.

After the events of 2014, the Russian authorities began systematically persecuting Ukrainian activists in the occupied territories. With the start of the full-scale invasion, repression expanded to include anyone who showed even the slightest signs of disobedience to the new regime: refusing to take a Russian passport, supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine through donations, posting patriotic content on social media, or being a relative of local activists or servicemen.

Today, one does not need to openly declare their Ukrainian identity to come under the scrutiny of Russian security services — it is enough to deviate even slightly from the rules imposed by the occupation authorities.

Today we must speak about our people who are illegally imprisoned by Russia. We must be their voice in Ukraine and around the world. That is why, on the Day of the Ukrainian Political Prisoner, we demand that the Russian Federation immediately release all civilians who are being held illegally.

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