Exciting News: In Ukraine and Georgia, the first official face-to-face meetings of initiative groups of Ukrainians, who were previously illegally taken out of colonies in the occupied Kherson region by russian security services, have taken place.
For us, this is doubly joyful news. Here's why:
Equal Support: Those who previously received assistance from our organization have now become initiative members, capable of extending help further. This creates a closed circle of mutual support, where each member of the initiative group can be both a helper and a recipient of aid. Such equal support strengthens the community and enhances its ability to act in solidarity and effectively.
Problem Identification: Our experience shows that the more involved we become in helping former Ukrainian prisoners, the more complexities and nuances we uncover. For example, behind the phrase "free for Ukrainians," there are often subtle bureaucratic obstacles, hindering access to aid, sometimes even basic medical assistance. With the involvement of initiative groups, we will work together to address such issues. This collaborative effort will help us better understand and detail the challenges faced by ex-Ukrainian prisoners and find collective ways to overcome them. This collaboration with initiative groups will strengthen our efforts and achieve clearer and more effective results in providing assistance to even more people.
We hope to make this column a regular feature, shedding light on the work of initiative groups on a permanent basis. And, of course, we are immensely proud of this fantastic initiative!
Background: Between October 22 and November 06, over 2500 Ukrainian citizens were illegally transported from Colony No. 7 in the Kherson region to the territory of russia through Crimea by russian occupying authorities. After serving their sentences, former Ukrainian prisoners are moved for an indefinite period to CVSIGs (Centers for Temporary Detention of Foreign Citizens) throughout russia, as decided by the court.