PACE recognized erasure of Ukrainian cultural identity by Russia as an element of genocide

Source: Ukraine’s culture ministry

The Committee on Culture of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recognized the erasure of Ukrainian cultural identity as a tool of Russia’s war against Ukraine and an element of genocidal policy aimed at destroying the Ukrainian nation.

The Committee on Culture of the PACE in Copenhagen unanimously supported the resolution on combating the destruction of cultural identity during war and peace, which was presented by a member of the Ukrainian delegation Yevhenia Kravchuk.

PACE will consider the adoption of the resolution at its June session.

The resolution asserts that Russia uses cultural ‘purges’ as a tool of war to deny the existence of other cultural identities and erase historical roots, values, heritage, literature, traditions and language.

Such actions are war crimes and crimes against humanity and testify to a specific genocidal intent to destroy the Ukrainian nation or at least part of it, in particular by destroying Ukrainian identity and culture. This is part of Russia’s genocidal campaign against the Ukrainian people.

Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.

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