Statements

We, the undersigned civil society organizations from Georgia and Ukraine, believe that Russia's ongoing military invasion of Ukraine represents an unprovoked and unjustified aggression against a sovereign state, and is an attempt to dismantle European and Global Security architecture, which requires the strongest possible response of the international community. Ukraine today demonstrates a remarkable example of courage fighting with one of the most powerful military machines in the World, and it is the duty of the Democratic world, to stand up for Ukraine in this uneven battle.

Georgia has also fallen a victim of Russian aggression in 2008, and Putin’s regime largely got away with it. What we witness today, is to a large extent, a result of that very lenience of the West back then. The Democratic World cannot afford making the same mistake again and it should adequately respond to this flagrant aggression in the heart of Europe.

We, Georgian and Ukrainian civil society representatives, would like to call on the Civil Society representatives globally, to join our address to all governments of the World to respond in a strict, unified and a forceful way to this brazen and criminal act of Russia. In the circumstances when innocent lives are being lost and infrastructure and economy of the country is being destroyed there is no time for half-measures. The Putin’s regime should pay a severe price for these crimes.

Therefore, we call on the governments of the democratic world to:

1. Impose strongest possible measures against Russian Federation, with the aim to force it to cease military actions as soon as possible
2. Continue increasing defense capabilities of Ukraine, including providing anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense systems, and ensuring Ukraine’s air defense through other means, including establishing and enforcing no-fly zones above certain parts of Ukrainian territory under Kiev's control as requested by President Zelenskyy
3. Provide financial and humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine, inside and outside the country
4. Enact welcoming conditions to refugees from Ukraine

We believe that Ukraine is fighting this war for the whole continent and the democratic world, and it is our duty to show support to the heroic people of Ukraine. The time to act is now!

Слава Україні!

1. Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia)
2. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)
3. Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF)
4. Institute for Democracy and Safe Development (IDSD)
5. Society and Banks
6. Georgian Farmers Association
7. Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC)
8. Green Alternative
9. Atlantic Council of Georgia
10. Media Development Foundation (MDF)
11. Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS)
12. Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA)
13. Sapari
14. In Depth Reporting and Economic analysis Center
15. Governance Monitoring Centre (GMC)
16. Pen Georgia
17. Europe Foundation
18. Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI)
19. World Experience for Georgia (WEG)
20. Human Rights Center (HRC)
21. Empathy
22. United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG)
23. Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI)
24. Leberal Academy
25. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)
26. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics
27. Rights Georgia
28. Georgian Media Club
29. Coalition for Local Self-Government and Democracy
30. International Center for Civic Culture
31. Center of Local Democracy Network
32. International Association Civitas Georgica
33. Management systems’ development center
34. Journalism Resource Center – JRC     
35.  Gori Information Centre
36. Union of Democrat Meskhs – UDM
37. Independent Journalists' House
38. Democratic Development Union of Georgia
39. Transparency International Ukraine (TI Ukraine)
40. East Europe Foundation (EEF) Ukraine
41. Centre for Innovation Development (CID) Ukraine
42. Center for Sustainable Development Initiatives - CSDI
43. All-Ukrainian Association of Organizations for People with Disabilities “The league of the strong” («The League of the strong»)
44. CO "CF "Caritas-Kyiv"
45. Centre of United Actions (Centre UA)
46. Center civil initiatives TIRA
47. Social sinergy NGO
48. All-Ukrainian NGO Coalition for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NGO Coalition)
49. Association for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities "Djerela" ("Djerela" Association)
50. Charitable Organization "100 % of life. Kyiv region"
51. Charitable Organization "School-Steps"
52. Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health
53. Health Right International
54. Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law
55. Public Organization “Social Synergy”
56.  Public Organization “Ukrainian Child Rights Network”
57. Public Organization “Family for Persons with Disability”
58. ICO CF SOS Children's Villages International Ukraine