Official Statement on the Incident in Velykyi Bereznyi

We are deeply concerned by reports of an incident in the town of Velykyi Bereznyi, where two officers of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine were injured as a result of a conflict. At the same time, we are equally troubled by the way this situation has been portrayed in the media.

The Youth Agency for the Advocacy of Roma Culture “ARCA” strongly condemns any act of violence, regardless of who is involved. We do not condone any unlawful behavior and call for a transparent, unbiased, and objective investigation of this case. It is essential to establish all the circumstances without resorting to ethnically charged interpretations or generalizations.

We also appeal to journalists and media representatives to refrain from jumping to conclusions or using language that could incite hostility. Mentioning the ethnic background of the individuals involved should not be used as a tool to discredit an entire community. We urge adherence to professional journalistic standards: report verified facts, check sources, and avoid biased headlines or public stigmatization.

Such incidents must not become a pretext for fueling interethnic hatred. We support the efforts of law enforcement aimed at upholding the rule of law and, at the same time, expect that the rights of all Ukrainian citizens, regardless of ethnic background, will be guaranteed and protected.

“ARCA” has sent an official request to the State Border Guard Service asking for comments on the progress of the investigation into the situation in Velykyi Bereznyi.