Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
@katielaroque.bsky.social
Freedom House policy & advocacy, focused on Eurasia. https://freedomhouse.org/expert/katie-laroque
Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
Truly wonderful
“Oh my god… I have no words.”
Listen to the emotional moment this year’s laureate Maria Corina ( finds out she has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Kristian Berg Harpviken, Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, shared the news.
NobelPrize #NobelPeacePrize
Listen to the emotional moment this year’s laureate Maria Corina ( finds out she has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Kristian Berg Harpviken, Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, shared the news.
NobelPrize #NobelPeacePrize
October 10, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Truly wonderful
Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
Here is the European joint statement
- Ukraine needs "ironclad security guarantees"
- No limitations on Ukraine's armed forces
- No Russian veto on Kyiv's EU/Nato membership
- No decisions on Ukraine's territory without Ukraine
- No let up on Russian sanction
- Ukraine needs "ironclad security guarantees"
- No limitations on Ukraine's armed forces
- No Russian veto on Kyiv's EU/Nato membership
- No decisions on Ukraine's territory without Ukraine
- No let up on Russian sanction
August 16, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Here is the European joint statement
- Ukraine needs "ironclad security guarantees"
- No limitations on Ukraine's armed forces
- No Russian veto on Kyiv's EU/Nato membership
- No decisions on Ukraine's territory without Ukraine
- No let up on Russian sanction
- Ukraine needs "ironclad security guarantees"
- No limitations on Ukraine's armed forces
- No Russian veto on Kyiv's EU/Nato membership
- No decisions on Ukraine's territory without Ukraine
- No let up on Russian sanction
Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
BREAKING: European leaders will join Ukraine's President Zelenskyy for the White House meeting with President Trump on Monday.
European leaders to join Ukraine's Zelenskyy for White House meeting with Trump
European leaders will join Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his crucial meeting with President Donald Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday.
bit.ly
August 17, 2025 at 10:56 AM
BREAKING: European leaders will join Ukraine's President Zelenskyy for the White House meeting with President Trump on Monday.
Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
The US State Department's recently released Human Rights Reports, which omit sections and obscure data on patterns of repeated human rights abuses, may allow for authoritarian regimes to evade accountability by claiming that cited violations are rare in practice.
🔗: freedomhouse.org/article/asse...
🔗: freedomhouse.org/article/asse...
August 15, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The US State Department's recently released Human Rights Reports, which omit sections and obscure data on patterns of repeated human rights abuses, may allow for authoritarian regimes to evade accountability by claiming that cited violations are rare in practice.
🔗: freedomhouse.org/article/asse...
🔗: freedomhouse.org/article/asse...
Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
Last week marked the 17th anniversary of Moscow’s illegal invasion and annexation of Georgian territory, which internally displaced tens of thousands of people.
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On this day in 2008, Russia invaded Georgia. Russia continues to illegally occupy 20% of Georgia's territory and works to undermine Georgia's democracy and independence.
August 11, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Last week marked the 17th anniversary of Moscow’s illegal invasion and annexation of Georgian territory, which internally displaced tens of thousands of people.
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Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
We applaud this week’s statement demanding that the Kremlin immediately and unconditionally return all abducted Ukrainian children and urge the United States to join the 40 signatories to similarly increase pressure on Moscow and its allies.
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August 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
We applaud this week’s statement demanding that the Kremlin immediately and unconditionally return all abducted Ukrainian children and urge the United States to join the 40 signatories to similarly increase pressure on Moscow and its allies.
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Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
Today marks the anniversary of Myanmar’s 1988 prodemocracy movement—a landmark moment cementing the peoples’ desire for self-governance and respect for human rights.
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The ‘8888’ Uprising is commemorated with pro-democracy rallies both inside and outside of Myanmar. But it has become even more relevant over the last four years, since the military coup that ousted the democratically-elected NLD #WhatshappeninginMyanmar english.dvb.no/anniversary-...
Anniversary of ‘8888’ Uprising for democracy commemorated in Myanmar and around the world - DVB
A protester outside of the Myanmar embassy in Tokyo, Japan holds a sign with lyrics from the famous Burmese protest song “Kabar Ma Kyay Bu [Until the End of the World],” which reads: “The blood of the...
english.dvb.no
August 8, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Today marks the anniversary of Myanmar’s 1988 prodemocracy movement—a landmark moment cementing the peoples’ desire for self-governance and respect for human rights.
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Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
We echo calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Saudi human rights defender Mohammed el-Bejadi.
El-Bejadi is one of many people in Saudi Arabia who remain unjustly imprisoned well beyond the completion of their prison sentences.
Full statement: freedomhouse.org/article/ngos...
El-Bejadi is one of many people in Saudi Arabia who remain unjustly imprisoned well beyond the completion of their prison sentences.
Full statement: freedomhouse.org/article/ngos...
Saudi human rights defender and ACPRA co-founder Mohammed al-Bejadi remains arbitrarily detained, over two years after his sentence ended.
📢 With 10+ NGOs, we call on #SaudiArabia's authorities to #FreeAlBejadi immediately.
Read our joint statement:
alqst.org/en/post/ngos...
📢 With 10+ NGOs, we call on #SaudiArabia's authorities to #FreeAlBejadi immediately.
Read our joint statement:
alqst.org/en/post/ngos...
NGOs call for immediate release of Saudi human rights defender Mohammed al-Bejadi, still held two years after his sentence ended
We, the undersigned organisations, express deep concern over the continued arbitrary detention of the Saudi human rights defender Mohammed al-Bejadi more than two years beyond his sentence.
alqst.org
August 7, 2025 at 8:43 PM
We echo calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Saudi human rights defender Mohammed el-Bejadi.
El-Bejadi is one of many people in Saudi Arabia who remain unjustly imprisoned well beyond the completion of their prison sentences.
Full statement: freedomhouse.org/article/ngos...
El-Bejadi is one of many people in Saudi Arabia who remain unjustly imprisoned well beyond the completion of their prison sentences.
Full statement: freedomhouse.org/article/ngos...
Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
We echo calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Egyptian poet Galal El-Bahairy, who remains unjustly imprisoned despite his sentence ending in 2021—a clear violation of Egyptian and international law.
Our letter to the Egyptian ambassador: freedomhouse.org/article/join...
Our letter to the Egyptian ambassador: freedomhouse.org/article/join...
Today marks 4 years since poet Galal El-Behairy should have been released from prison. Despite finishing an unjust 3-year sentence for his writing in 2021, he remains unlawfully detained in Egypt.
Our joint letter urging Egypt’s Ambassador to the U.S. Motaz Zahran to act: pen.org/joint-letter...
Our joint letter urging Egypt’s Ambassador to the U.S. Motaz Zahran to act: pen.org/joint-letter...
July 31, 2025 at 8:21 PM
We echo calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Egyptian poet Galal El-Bahairy, who remains unjustly imprisoned despite his sentence ending in 2021—a clear violation of Egyptian and international law.
Our letter to the Egyptian ambassador: freedomhouse.org/article/join...
Our letter to the Egyptian ambassador: freedomhouse.org/article/join...
Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
We welcome today’s Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights report on #transnationalrepression in the UK, which suggests several important ways to counter TNR, including by adopting a formal definition, monitoring and recording incidents, training police, and preventing Interpol abuse.
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In a report published on Wednesday, the Joint Committee on Human Rights said transnational repression had increased in recent years, with foreign states using online harassment, lawsuits and physical violence to intimidate people in the UK
www.itv.com/news/2025-07...
www.itv.com/news/2025-07...
July 30, 2025 at 5:32 PM
We welcome today’s Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights report on #transnationalrepression in the UK, which suggests several important ways to counter TNR, including by adopting a formal definition, monitoring and recording incidents, training police, and preventing Interpol abuse.
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Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
We condemn the Kremlin’s new law penalizing VPN use and online searches for so-called extremist content—yet another escalation in its campaign to isolate Russian society from the global internet and suppress access to independent information.
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Russia passes law punishing searches for 'extremist' content reut.rs/45fQaBR
Russia passes law punishing searches for 'extremist' content
Russians will face fines if they search online for "extremist" content under a new law that tightens censorship and could have sweeping ramifications for digital privacy and the fate of WhatsApp in the country.
reut.rs
July 28, 2025 at 7:40 PM
We condemn the Kremlin’s new law penalizing VPN use and online searches for so-called extremist content—yet another escalation in its campaign to isolate Russian society from the global internet and suppress access to independent information.
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Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
We condemn the latest bounties issued by Hong Kong authorities against exiled prodemocracy activists, in what the governments of Canada, the US, and the UK have rightly called out as an act of #transnationalrepression.
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Hong Kong issues arrest warrants for 19 overseas activists, offers bounties for 15 reut.rs/45iUWyt
Hong Kong issues arrest warrants for 19 overseas activists, offers bounties for 15
Hong Kong's national security police announced arrest warrants for 19 activists based overseas, accusing them of subversion under a stringent national security law, marking the largest such tally yet.
reut.rs
July 28, 2025 at 3:37 PM
We condemn the latest bounties issued by Hong Kong authorities against exiled prodemocracy activists, in what the governments of Canada, the US, and the UK have rightly called out as an act of #transnationalrepression.
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Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
We are concerned by the Ukrainian government's decision to remove independence from the country's primary anticorruption investigation bodies.
This law should be repealed, or else it risks eroding a decade’s worth of hard-earned democratic gains achieved since the 2014 Revolution of Dignity.
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This law should be repealed, or else it risks eroding a decade’s worth of hard-earned democratic gains achieved since the 2014 Revolution of Dignity.
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🚨 BREAKING: Ukrainians protested across the country tonight after lawmakers voted to scuttle the independence of two national anti-corruption bodies.
Full story:
Full story:
‘Outrageous’: Anger builds in Ukraine over law targeting corruption watchdogs
Protesters mass in Kyiv for the first time since Vladimir Putin launched Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
www.politico.eu
July 23, 2025 at 8:21 PM
We are concerned by the Ukrainian government's decision to remove independence from the country's primary anticorruption investigation bodies.
This law should be repealed, or else it risks eroding a decade’s worth of hard-earned democratic gains achieved since the 2014 Revolution of Dignity.
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This law should be repealed, or else it risks eroding a decade’s worth of hard-earned democratic gains achieved since the 2014 Revolution of Dignity.
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Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
We are saddened to see @cristosal.bsky.social cease its operations in El Salvador.
Their decision to relocate follows months of govt-led intimidation campaigns, illuminating the Bukele regime's continuous abdication of duty to uphold fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association.
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Their decision to relocate follows months of govt-led intimidation campaigns, illuminating the Bukele regime's continuous abdication of duty to uphold fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association.
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"Cristosal made the decision in May to evacuate their staff and cease operations within El Salvador after 25 years working in the country. On Thursday, the organization is holding a press conference in Guatemala City to explain their decision, and discuss how they will continue their work in exile"
Human Rights Defenders Are Fleeing El Salvador as Bukele Cracks Down
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele's authoritarian regime is forcing human rights defenders like the nonprofit Cristosal to flee the nation.
www.rollingstone.com
July 17, 2025 at 7:15 PM
We are saddened to see @cristosal.bsky.social cease its operations in El Salvador.
Their decision to relocate follows months of govt-led intimidation campaigns, illuminating the Bukele regime's continuous abdication of duty to uphold fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association.
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Their decision to relocate follows months of govt-led intimidation campaigns, illuminating the Bukele regime's continuous abdication of duty to uphold fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association.
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Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
We welcome today’s decision to sanction several individuals affiliated with Iran’s campaign of #transnationalrepression.
It’s imperative that the world’s democracies demonstrate there are consequences for cross-border human rights violations and hold the perpetrators of these abuses accountable.
It’s imperative that the world’s democracies demonstrate there are consequences for cross-border human rights violations and hold the perpetrators of these abuses accountable.
The EU has adopted new sanctions in view of:
📌 the situation in Haiti
📌 actions destabilising Moldova
📌 human rights violations in Iran
What are sanctions? How are sanctions adopted?
Find out all the answers ➡️ europa.eu/!3NgRcc
📌 the situation in Haiti
📌 actions destabilising Moldova
📌 human rights violations in Iran
What are sanctions? How are sanctions adopted?
Find out all the answers ➡️ europa.eu/!3NgRcc
Sanctions
Find out why and how the EU adopts sanctions, and where in the world sanctions apply.
europa.eu
July 15, 2025 at 4:47 PM
We welcome today’s decision to sanction several individuals affiliated with Iran’s campaign of #transnationalrepression.
It’s imperative that the world’s democracies demonstrate there are consequences for cross-border human rights violations and hold the perpetrators of these abuses accountable.
It’s imperative that the world’s democracies demonstrate there are consequences for cross-border human rights violations and hold the perpetrators of these abuses accountable.
Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
We are grateful for @wassermanschultz.house.gov’s ongoing advocacy on behalf of artists Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo Pérez and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who have been unjustly imprisoned in Cuba since 2021.
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Tomorrow is the 4th anniversary of the brutal silencing of Cuba's pro-democracy protestors.
Wherever dissent is crushed, we must raise our voices. I urged Sec. Rubio to intervene & free political prisoners like Maykel Osorbo & Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara.
wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documen...
Wherever dissent is crushed, we must raise our voices. I urged Sec. Rubio to intervene & free political prisoners like Maykel Osorbo & Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara.
wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documen...
July 14, 2025 at 5:58 PM
We are grateful for @wassermanschultz.house.gov’s ongoing advocacy on behalf of artists Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo Pérez and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who have been unjustly imprisoned in Cuba since 2021.
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Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
Trump's "big announcement": He called on Putin to end the war in Ukraine in 50 days or the US will implement "secondary tariffs" at 100%.
July 14, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Trump's "big announcement": He called on Putin to end the war in Ukraine in 50 days or the US will implement "secondary tariffs" at 100%.
Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
We proudly join calls for the release of Dr. Salah Soltan and all others unjustly detained in Egypt.
We also urge Egyptian authorities to provide Dr. Soltan with the medical care he requires and to stop their ongoing harassment of his family.
Read more: freedomhouse.org/article/righ...
We also urge Egyptian authorities to provide Dr. Soltan with the medical care he requires and to stop their ongoing harassment of his family.
Read more: freedomhouse.org/article/righ...
Rights Groups Call on Egyptian Authorities to Immediately Release Dr. Salah Soltan and All Wrongfully Detained Prisoners Sentenced in Case No. 1766 of 2022
freedomhouse.org
July 10, 2025 at 8:50 PM
We proudly join calls for the release of Dr. Salah Soltan and all others unjustly detained in Egypt.
We also urge Egyptian authorities to provide Dr. Soltan with the medical care he requires and to stop their ongoing harassment of his family.
Read more: freedomhouse.org/article/righ...
We also urge Egyptian authorities to provide Dr. Soltan with the medical care he requires and to stop their ongoing harassment of his family.
Read more: freedomhouse.org/article/righ...
Following the June release of 14 political prisoners from Belarus, Tsikhanouskaya said, "We must not normalize the trafficking of political prisoners, when people are released for concessions, softening sanctions or publicity...then new political prisoners are taken."
www.politico.eu/article/bela...
www.politico.eu/article/bela...
Belarusian opposition leader calls for Trump to ‘punish’ dictator Lukashenko
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is appealing to the U.S. president to continue putting pressure on the authoritarian leader of Belarus.
www.politico.eu
July 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Following the June release of 14 political prisoners from Belarus, Tsikhanouskaya said, "We must not normalize the trafficking of political prisoners, when people are released for concessions, softening sanctions or publicity...then new political prisoners are taken."
www.politico.eu/article/bela...
www.politico.eu/article/bela...
Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
The Dalai Lama has continuously responded to Beijing’s authoritarian campaign of persecution with inspiring dignity, moral clarity, and cultural stewardship. He received our Freedom Award in recognition of this innate commitment to the principles of democracy, peace, and unity in 1991.
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Dalai Lama says institution of Dalai Lama will continue reut.rs/4ki2eHe
Dalai Lama says institution of Dalai Lama will continue
The Dalai Lama said on Wednesday the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue and the Gaden Phodrang trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation, ending years of waiting by followers of the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader for details about his succession.
reut.rs
July 3, 2025 at 7:10 PM
The Dalai Lama has continuously responded to Beijing’s authoritarian campaign of persecution with inspiring dignity, moral clarity, and cultural stewardship. He received our Freedom Award in recognition of this innate commitment to the principles of democracy, peace, and unity in 1991.
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Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
We're also going to find out that RFE/RL, USAID and the rest of the American soft-power apparatus was also load-bearing.
It turns out a radio station is a lot cheaper than if you have to intervene to fight a war or control refugee flows.
A *lot* of this stuff is load-bearing.
It turns out a radio station is a lot cheaper than if you have to intervene to fight a war or control refugee flows.
A *lot* of this stuff is load-bearing.
July 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
We're also going to find out that RFE/RL, USAID and the rest of the American soft-power apparatus was also load-bearing.
It turns out a radio station is a lot cheaper than if you have to intervene to fight a war or control refugee flows.
A *lot* of this stuff is load-bearing.
It turns out a radio station is a lot cheaper than if you have to intervene to fight a war or control refugee flows.
A *lot* of this stuff is load-bearing.
Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
We applaud yesterday’s introduction of a bipartisan resolution calling for the return of over 19,000 Ukrainian children that have been abducted, militarized, and indoctrinated by Russian, Belarusian, and occupying authorities.
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Reps @meeks.house.gov and Michael McCaul today introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning Russia’s abduction and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children and calling for their return before a peace agreement is finalized.
Read the resolution: democrats-foreignaffairs.house.gov/2025/6/meeks...
Read the resolution: democrats-foreignaffairs.house.gov/2025/6/meeks...
July 1, 2025 at 4:46 PM
We applaud yesterday’s introduction of a bipartisan resolution calling for the return of over 19,000 Ukrainian children that have been abducted, militarized, and indoctrinated by Russian, Belarusian, and occupying authorities.
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If EU sanctions against Georgian Dream leadership are not on the table at the moment, perhaps it's time to consider sanctions against judges that are responsible for sentencing #Georgia opposition and civil society members.
www.politico.eu/article/geor...
www.politico.eu/article/geor...
Georgia sentences 4 politicians in widening opposition crackdown
Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas said the sentences were “not proportional,” adding that Georgia’s justice system appeared to be part of a “repression machine.”
www.politico.eu
July 1, 2025 at 1:08 PM
If EU sanctions against Georgian Dream leadership are not on the table at the moment, perhaps it's time to consider sanctions against judges that are responsible for sentencing #Georgia opposition and civil society members.
www.politico.eu/article/geor...
www.politico.eu/article/geor...
Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
The EU today officially agreed to extend sectoral sanctions on Russia.
We will continue to pile pressure on Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.
Each sanction weakens Russia’s ability to wage war.
We will continue to pile pressure on Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.
Each sanction weakens Russia’s ability to wage war.
June 30, 2025 at 10:21 AM
The EU today officially agreed to extend sectoral sanctions on Russia.
We will continue to pile pressure on Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.
Each sanction weakens Russia’s ability to wage war.
We will continue to pile pressure on Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.
Each sanction weakens Russia’s ability to wage war.
Reposted by Katie LaRoque 🇺🇦🌻
🇺🇦🇪🇺 The establishment of a Special Tribunal for Russia, the return of abducted Ukrainian children, the Compensation Mechanism and restoration.
🗣️ Interview with Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe!
Read more 👀⬇️
theukrainianreview.info/ukraine-is-n...
🗣️ Interview with Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe!
Read more 👀⬇️
theukrainianreview.info/ukraine-is-n...
Ukraine is not “one of the topics” but a central priority, – Borys Tarasyuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe
The establishment of a Special Tribunal for Russia, the return of abducted Ukrainian children, the Compensation Mechanism and restoration are the main priorities of Ukrainians in the Council of Europe...
theukrainianreview.info
June 30, 2025 at 6:24 PM
🇺🇦🇪🇺 The establishment of a Special Tribunal for Russia, the return of abducted Ukrainian children, the Compensation Mechanism and restoration.
🗣️ Interview with Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe!
Read more 👀⬇️
theukrainianreview.info/ukraine-is-n...
🗣️ Interview with Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe!
Read more 👀⬇️
theukrainianreview.info/ukraine-is-n...