The following statement was released by the Ukrainian World Congress on April 4.
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) commends the solidarity of the international community in response to the use of a nerve agent to poison a former Russian spy living in the United Kingdom and urges high-ranking officials of governments and international organizations to further strengthen the message of condemnation of the Russian Federation by boycotting the games of the 21st FIFA World Cup.
The UWC deems it unacceptable for high-ranking officials of governments and international organizations to attend any FIFA World Cup games scheduled to be played in the Russian Federation from June 14, 2018, to July 15, 2018.
The Russian Federation continues to demonstrate its blatant disregard for the sovereignty of independent states, the rule of law, international conventions and order, and remains an aggressor state that illegally occupies Crimea and persistently wages its armed activities in Eastern Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian World Congress urges high-ranking officials of governments and international organizations to follow the lead of the United Kingdom and Poland, and refrain from attending the 21st FIFA World Cup games in the Russian Federation that persists with its hybrid aggression,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
The UWC is the international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora representing the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians. The UWC has a network of member organizations and ties with Ukrainians in 53 countries. Founded in 1967, the UWC was recognized in 2003 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a non-governmental organization with special consultative status.