On 8-9 February, the XII Bandera Readings on the topic “Freedom for Nations! Freedom for the Individual! – the history and prospects of the liberation struggle of the nations enslaved by Russia ” were held in Kyiv within the walls of the Museum of the Revolution of Dignity.
The Russian-Ukrainian war opened up a unique opportunity for the nations enslaved by Russia to throw off the yoke of Moscow colonialism and imperialism, and finally become the masters of their destiny on their own land. Every people, and nation, whose land the Moscow occupier came to, partly put up more than a century of resistance to the Moscow empire. Moscow destroyed the rebellious, encouraged traitors, and rewrote history.
The time has come for every nation in this prison of nations to find out “who they are, by whom, for what they are chained” and to make their own decision. Whether to die in Russian captivity, being a blind tool in the hands of the Kremlin, powerless on their own land, deprived of language, history, and identity, or to remember the glory of their ancestors and fight for freedom.
The event began with greetings from the co-organizers – the participants were addressed by Yuriyi Syrotyuk, initiator of the Bandera readings, director of the Ukrainian Strategic Studies Studio, vice-president of the Anti-Imperial Block of Nations, chief sergeant of the fire support company of the 5th separate assault Kyiv brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and Oleh Medunytsya, head of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (Banderites), President of the Anti-Imperial Block of Nations.
On the first day, a discussion was held between Ukrainian historians, military personnel, and public figures who discussed the past and present struggles of the nations enslaved by Russia. The discussion was moderated by Rostyslav Martyniuk.
Among the participants is Yevhen Buket, a writer, local historian, journalist, member and board member of the National Union of Local Historians of Ukraine. Special correspondent of the Information Agency of the Ministry of Defenсe of Ukraine “ArmyInform”.
Mykhailo Kubliy, Candidate of Historical Sciences, expert of the Non-governmental Analytical Centre “Ukrainian Studies of Strategic Research”, research fellow of the Department of Bioarchaeology of the Institute of Archaeology of the NAS of Ukraine.
Denis Kovalev, PhD, translator, public figure, founding director of the Centre for the Study of Finland, member of the League of Free Nations from the Moksha National Movement, director of the Anatoly Ryabov Ukrainian Centre for Finno-Ugric Studies.
We listened to Oleksandr Muzychko, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor at Odesa National University named after I.I. Mechnikov, and Vyacheslav Trush, Chaplain of the Right Sector, Historian of the Eastern Ukrainian Research Centre “Heritage”.
Dmytro Bily – professor, doctor of historical sciences, senior researcher at the National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide, researcher of the history of the Kuban, joined the discussion.
The finalists of the traditional Youth Essay Contest on the specified topic were also awarded. This year, first place was taken by an active military serviceman, Captain of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksiy Tkachenko.
Finally, the book “Involuntary Accession: The History of the Liberation Struggle of the Nations enslaved by Russia” was presented, which is being prepared for publication. You can now pre-order the book here: https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSfudqUDa…/viewform…
The second day was devoted to the prospects of the national liberation struggle.
The discussion was attended by researchers of Russian colonialism and the fight against it, as well as active representatives of national liberation formations of the nations enslaved by Russia. Among them were leaders of the Bashkir movement Ruslan Gabbasov, a Bashkir nationalist, head of the Committee of the Bashkir National Movement Abroad, vice-president of the Anti-Imperial Block of Nations, one of the founders of the organization “Bashkort.
Representatives of the exiled government of Tatarstan Rafis Kashapov, Prime Minister of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in exile, political prisoner of the Kremlin regime), veterans of the wars with Russia in the Caucasus Dzhambulat Suleymanov, leader of the Chechen national liberation movement “United Force”. A veteran of the first and second Russian-Chechen wars, historian, and graduate of the University of Free Nations.
They were in discussion with political scientists and public figures who are currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Yuriy Syrotyuk, Yuriy Oliynyk, and Mykhailo Basarab.
Finally, the partner of this year’s Bandera Readings, the Anti-Imperial Block of Nations, held a Panel of lecturers and graduates of the University of Free Nations entitled “Current Issues of the National Liberation Struggle of the Nations Enslaved by Russia at the Present Stage.”
Link to the event broadcast:
Many thanks to the talented photographers Nastya Sonyachna and the #KOSHOVENKO TVUA Blog
