Stop Anti-Armenian Racism in Marhanets, Ukraine

We, the co-signors of this petition, demand an immediate action and express our highest concern and bewilderment at the uninhibited ethnic cleansing targeting the Armenian minority community in Marhanets, Ukraine.

We regret that the local majority population has launched a violent, organized and massive campaign to expel the Armenian minority from Marhanets, Ukraine. Anti-Armenian street demonstrations stemming from a small violent incident culminated into street riots targeting Armenians and their property. The mob abused Armenians forcing them out of their homes, smashed and rampaged Armenian businesses and set on fire cars. Under such circumstances and with no immediate help from local government and delayed help from state authorities, the Armenian population was forced to flee Marhanets for the fear of further racial violence directed towards them.

We strongly condemn the racist stance of the local government of Marhanets and demand an appropriate action from Ukranian government. The mayor of Marhanets was quoted by international media as to promise to look into the legality of every Armenian persons right to live in Marhanets regardless of her citizenship. Such actions by the local government clearly violate the international norm for human rights and should be strongly condemned and punished by the Ukrainian government.

Ukraine, a country with ambitions to enter the European Union and the host of such important European events as Euro Cup 2012, should do everything in its power to create an environment of tolerance and harmony towards her minority citizens.

We urge the Ukrainian government to restore and guarantee peace and tranquility for all of her minority citizens, especially the currently vulnerable Armenian minority. We also request that the Ukrainian government supports all the efforts to compensate the Armenian minority for the personal injury and property damage resulting from the anti-Armenian riots in Marhanets.