– N. Ribar –
NOTE: On January 2, 2023, the Verkhovna Rada deleted the statement from their social media accounts. This came with no explanation, apology or recantment. Honouring the Ukrainian fascist Stepan Bandera has long been state policy and it is likely this was only done because of pushback from their wartime ally, the Poles. The archived version of the statement is linked here.
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The Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, issued an official statement on Twitter and Facebook on January 1, 2023, in celebration of the 114th birthday of the leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, Stepan Bandera. He is best known for presiding over the genocide of hundreds of thousands of Jews, Poles and Russians in the territory of Ukraine in co-operation with nazi occupation forces, with whom he issued statements and orders for the extermination of those three peoples. This was a component part of the Holocaust in Ukraine. The statement of the parliament, linked here, is translated below:
“January 1 marks the 114th anniversary of the birth of Stepan Bandera (1909-1959).
“Stepan Bandera:
“‘When a people choose bread between bread and freedom, they eventually lose everything, including bread. If the people choose freedom, they will have bread grown by themselves and not taken away by anyone.’
“‘The realization that God is with us is the most complete and greatest help for all of us.’
“‘The complete and Supreme victory of Ukrainian nationalism will be the state when the Russian Empire ceases to exist.’
“Now the struggle against the Russian empire continues. And these instructions of Stepan Bandera are well understood by the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny.”
While not daring to quote Bandera in regard to his hatred for Jews and Poles, the Ukrainian parliament has no reserve in stating that his anti-Russian racism was justified. They state that his goal, the destruction of Russia, is their common goal, and that of the Commander-in-Chief of their Army.
The “nazi problem” in Ukraine is not contained to a few battalions, as some who have finally admitted nazis have a presence there claim, but contagious to the highest echelons of the state. This is the country we are led to believe is spreading “democracy” by fighting Russia.
Though mainly a symbol of South Slavs, a great patriotic song of the unity of all Slavs, Hej, Slaveni, states bluntly: “Proklet bio izdajica, Svoje domovine!” — Damn the traitor to his homeland! The Ukrainian fascists and their supporters should heed this warning and cease their course of betrayal of the Slavic peoples, before it is too late.
Nazi traitors must not pass!
Oppose the militarization of the Kiev fascist regime!