WHY SANCTIONS SHOULD BE IMPOSED ON VIKTOR MEDVEDCHUK BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
August 27, 2018
Vasyl Stus, a Ukrainian martyr who was tortured to death by the Soviets in 1985, is remembered with veneration as a fearless Ukrainian freedom fighter who gave his life in the struggle to secure universal values of humanity - individual liberty and national freedom - for his countrymen and women. He was an intellectual, writer and poet, and exponent of non-violence. For his writings alone he paid the ultimate price. Subjected to sadistic physical and psychological torture he died in prison rather than renounce his struggle for freedom and justice for his nation (weblink: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasyl_Stus).
As we remember Vasyl Stus, we are constrained to note with profound anger and sadness that one of his principal tormentors Viktor Medvedchuk lives freely in Ukraine and continues to wield power and influence in the corridors of government.
Acting on a motion by 59 Members of the Ukrainian Parliament, initiated by MP Andriy Levus, the Ukrainian court ordered the Prosecutor General to open a criminal case against Medvedchuk. The pre-trial investigation is being carried out under articles of the criminal code including the overthrow of the constitutional order, subversion against the sovereignty of Ukraine, and financing terrorism, all of this at a time of war with Russia. According to “Free People”, a nationwide civic nongovernmental organization, and many other independent sources, Medvedchuk directs and coordinates the pro-Russian and revanchist forces in Ukraine.
In accordance with Executive Order 13660 of March 6, 2014, the United States of America imposed personal sanctions against Medvedchuk for threatening the peace, security, stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and for undermining democratic institutions and processes in Ukraine https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/17/fact-sheet-ukraine-related-sanctions. Medvedchuk remains on the sanctions list to this day. Similarly, Australia also imposed personal sanctions against him https://www.legislation.gov. au/Details/F2017L00675. Extensive publicly available evidence points to Medvedchuk and his role in Russia’s hybrid war against Ukraine in the economic, information and political spheres.
Vasyl Stus deserves justice. The Ukrainian people deserve justice. Ukrainians have the support of the Government and people of Canada in their heroic resistance against Russian military aggression and subversive and seditious special operations throughout the country.
Therefore, we call on the Government of Canada, the Official Opposition, and indeed all political parties represented in the House of Commons to help Ukraine bring Viktor Medvedchuk to justice by immediately imposing sanctions on him, sanctions similar to those imposed on Medvedchuk by the United States and Australia.
