ITUC Statement on Ukraine

The ITUC condemns the use of extreme violence – violence on the orders of the President and Government of Ukraine – leading to the tragic deaths of their own citizens.

An independent and credible investigation of the use of violence by the authorities must be put in place, and all Ukrainians must have confidence that country will be governed in accordance with international principles of democracy and the rule of law.

The deepening political divisions can only be resolved through genuine commitment of all parties to peaceful dialogue and full respect for human rights.

Urgent and comprehensive action is needed to tackle economic inequality and end the domination of the Ukrainian economy by tiny elites who continue to profit at the expense of ordinary people.

The government has flouted its promises of reform, and the threat by the country’s secret service to target members of the parliamentary opposition and legitimate demonstrators as “terrorists” is completely unacceptable and characteristic of a dictatorship.

The ITUC calls on all sides to commit fully to democracy, dialogue and social justice and to reject extremists of any political persuasion.

Click here to see video of the headquarters of the FPU union centre in Kiev, which has been burned down. From the start of the Maidan Square protests, the FPU opened this building to demonstrators who were given food and the chance to get warm in the freezing temperatures.