Regional Council Chairman Ivan Baloha urges deputies to prove their citizenship

Transcarpathian Regional Council Chairman Ivan Baloha harshly criticized the government’s actions against the protesters in Kyiv. According to the Chairman of the Regional Council, the government crossed the line, using weapons against their own people. The Chairman of the Regional Council expressed support to all Ukrainians who, risking their health and even lives, defend justice and the right to live in a free, democratic Ukraine, and not in a police or a dictatorship country. Ivan Baloha also appealed to local councilors, local governments and law enforcement officers of the region with a call to show their citizenship.

"Murders on Hrushevsky street, bloodshed on the Day of Unity – this is a true face of this regime. It is unacceptable that, in the time of peace, in the center of Europe, people are killed during peaceful protests. Death of those young citizens of Ukraine is a loss for the entire state. And the current government is responsible for this. The Party of Regions and its leaders have usurped the power. Their plans are clear: to destroy democracy in Ukraine. I appeal to the deputies of all levels: show your courage, do not succumb to the pressure, stand next to people. I encourage Party of Regions members to withdraw from the party in order to influence the decisions of senior government officials to stop enforcement actions. 

Staying in the party, you become complicit in the crimes.   The first example of citizenship in Transcarpathia was shown by Perechyn District Council Chairman Anatoliy Pertsev who withdrew from the Party of Regions. I urge other deputies to do the same. Thus you will show Transcarpathian community that you do not support crimes of your party leaders.

I think that the authorities must stop killing their citizens and finally hear the Ukrainian people, and fulfill their demands.

I also appeal to the management of regional law enforcement, military units, units of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs to stay where you are and not to send soldiers to war against their own people. I urge you not to send our boys in Kyiv and not to participate in the defense of the dictatorship. Citizens of the region will be grateful to you for it and your conscience will be clear" – Ivan Baloha said.