UKRAINIAN WORLD CONGRESS STATEMENT ON THE 78TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOLODOMOR OF 1932-33

On Saturday, November 26, 2011, International Holodomor Memorial Day, Ukrainians around the world will remember the victims of the Ukrainian genocide – the Holodomor of 1932-33, the most extensive and heinous crime of the totalitarian Soviet regime against Ukraine and the Ukrainian nation. 

Seventy-eight years ago, in an attempt to subdue our nation and destroy its national spirit, Soviet authorities brutally eliminated millions of innocent Ukrainians causing irreparable harm to the social fabric of Ukraine's society, its spiritual culture and ethnic identity. 

Honouring the memory of the Holodomor's victims, the over 20 million strong Ukrainian diaspora, led by the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), continues its persistent efforts to raise international awareness of the reasons and consequences of the Holodomor in Ukraine. Among our greatest accomplishments has been the recognition of the Holodomor as an act of genocide by the governments of sixteen countries. One of these countries was Ukraine, recognizing the Holodomor as a genocide in 2006. Today, the Ukrainian government does not recognize the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people in direct contravention of the Law of Ukraine ”On the Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine.”

In commemoration of the 78th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932-33, the UWC calls upon the Ukrainian diaspora to remember this tragic historical event and mark the anniversary on Saturday, November 26 with memorial services, community vigils and other commemorative events. The UWC also calls upon every Ukrainian family to light a candle in the window of their home and unite in the international campaign “Light a candle in remembrance.” 

“In order to prevent the resurgence of totalitarian regimes and the recurrence of such horrors, the UWC calls upon all Ukrainian communities around the world to continue their efforts to raise awareness and actively support the recognition of the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people in their countries of residence,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.

May our memory of the victims of the Holodomor-genocide of the Ukrainian nation be eternal.