Case of Far Eastern Ukrainian Highlights Need for Clear Definition of ‘Ethnically Motivated Persecution’

Paul Goble

            Staunton, June 13 – Charges Russian officials have brought against Nataliya Romanenko, a Ukrainian in Russia’s Khabarovsk Kray, based solely on her efforts to retain her identity and culture highlight the urgent need for a clear definition of “ethnically motivated persecution,” the ABN portal says.

            Because no such definition now exists, it suggests, many Ukrainians who are being persecuted in the Russian Federation for their language and culture alone are not counted as victims of persecution becaluse they aren’t political enough (abn.org.ua/en/liberation-movements/far-eastern-ukrainian-natalia-romanenko-her-path-of-formation-activities-and-history-of-persecution/).

            But under Putin, such persecution has become ever more common especially with regard to Russian treatment of Ukrainians and deserves both to be defined and included in the list of actions that qualify someone as a political prisoner or victim of political persecution however “unpolitical” their actions may appear to be. Otherwise, this type of crime will only increase.