Open letter of the Roma Council of Ukraine and the Roma Youth Council

Dear Ukrainian people!

Roma have lived in Ukraine for over 600 years and consider it their homeland! All the grief and joy that happens in our country, the Roma also experience. We are Ukrainians of Roma origin. The sadness of Ukraine is one for all! The joy of Ukraine is one for all!

In this difficult time, the Roma Council of Ukraine and the Youth Roma Council of Ukraine, which represents the association of Roma community organizations and is the voice of Ukrainian Roma, express their support for the Ukrainian state, government and armed forces of Ukraine the courage and steadfastness of the Ukrainian people and we are proud to be a part of it!

Ukrainian Roma, like all other citizens, contribute to the victory of our country. This is how the news spread around the world, how Roma in Kherson region risked their lives, showed courage and requisitioned a tank of the Russian occupiers. But this is only part of it: Ukrainian Roma, along with all others, are on the front line, joining the ranks of territorial self-defense, treating the sick, providing volunteer, financial and other assistance to accelerate Ukraine's victory in this war. We urge all Roma to continue in the same direction - to the desired victory!

We receive hundreds of messages every day from Roma from all over the world! They come out to demonstrate in support of Ukraine, take refugees in their homes, provide humanitarian aid, and are concerned and empathize with everything that is happening in our country.

The Romani Council of Ukraine condemns the war and aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. It became known about the bombing of Babyn Yar by the troops of the Russian Federation on March 1, 2022. This place is sacred to the Roma. During the Second World War, our relatives and friends died there. A country that shoots at civilians, bombs Babyn Yar, and by this fact shows its contempt not only for living people, but also for the memory of the dead, has no right to be part of the civilized world.

We would like to express our gratitude to the countries that stood up to defend and support our homeland and adopted sanctions against the aggressor.

The Roma Council of Ukraine and the Youth Roma Council of Ukraine,

as the representative body of the Ukrainian Roma, ask to increase the pressure on the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus to completely stop the hostilities and restore the Ukrainian territories within their borders recognized by the international community. We call on the European Union and the states friendly to Ukraine to close the skies over Ukraine, because only in this way can we save the lives of civilians from the threat that awaits them in the sky.

Separately, the Roma Council of Ukraine and the Youth Roma Council of Ukraine want to address the residents of Russia in Russian.

Ukraine is a multinational state. More than 120 national and ethnic groups live here, including Russians. All Minorities are granted the right to speak their native language, to develop and preserve their culture.

Roma (Gypsies) as no one else knows what genocide is. Practically every Roma family suffered from persecution and terror during the Second World War, therefore Roma have the right to give this or that assessment of events and processes which take place in the world as a whole and in Ukraine in particular.

Roma Council of Ukraine and Roma Youth Council of Ukraine

UKRAINE responsibly declare that fascism is alien to the Ukrainian state! The Russian government misinforms its population! Peaceful people die at the hands of Russian soldiers, among them the Roma of Ukraine. Of course, Ukraine

Ukraine has its problems, as well as in other countries, but this is our home, at home we will sort it out ourselves!!!!

We believe that the Russian people have reason and conscience, and we urge you to be critical of the propaganda that is carried out in your homeland and to show solidarity and sympathy for Ukraine.

WE ASK THE UKRAINIAN AUTHORITIES AND MASS MEDIA TO PUBLICIZE AND DISSEMINATE THIS LIST AS THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF THE ROMA OF UKRAINE.

Time will pass, and the common sadness and sorrow of Ukrainians, Roma, Crimean Tatars and other ethnic groups will be replaced by the common joy of victory and peace on earth!

KHETAN AME ZORALE! TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG!