European students hold a vigil to honour victims of the Maidan

BRUSSELS – Students from all over Europe will gather this evening 20 March outside the Agora Simone Veil building of the European Parliament in Brussels to show their continuous support to students, young people and citizens in Ukraine. This event will honour the ones that paid the price with their lives to fight for freedom and territorial integrity.

This event starts at 18:00 and is organised in the framework of the 27th European Students’ Convention. Rok Primozic, Chairperson of the European Students Union will open the event by honouring the victims of the Maidan. Ielyzaveta Shchepetylnykova, President of the Ukrainian Association of Student Self-governments, will also address people and bring in the perspective of Ukrainian students.

Students gathering in front of the Agora Simone Veil building will light candles and have a minute of silence to remember the victims of the Maidan after which balloons will be released to show support to Ukrainians, especially students, who fight for their rights, unity and territorial integrity.

Continuous support

Since the beginning of the unrest in Ukraine, in the end of November 2013, the European Students’ Union has stood by Ukrainian students. It urged Yanukovich’s government to listen to its citizens and respect the most fundamental human rights to freedom of expression and right to assemble. After Yanukovich fled Kiev, the European Students’ Union continued to support Ukrainian students and citizens in their demands for an inclusion of students in the decision-making processes of the new Ukrainian interim government. The European Students’ Union has also been actively advocating for a peaceful solution to the unrest in Ukraine, as students are at the forefront of democracy and human rights. When Russia deployed military forces in Crimea, the European Students’ Union urged world leaders and international organisations to let the people of Ukraine decide their own future and respect the Budapest memorandum. Any illegal acts should be condemned and sanctioned.

Students and young people experienced brutal violence for being at the forefront of the protests. More than hundred people were killed and many more were heavily injured. The European Students’ Union shows solidarity with Ukrainians in their fight for deciding the future of their own country. But it is also extremely important to remember the victims of the Maidan that never gave up and had to pay the price with their lives to bring the changes in Ukraine forward.

Open event

This event is open to all those who are interested. Representatives of the European Students’ Union and the Ukrainian Association of Student Self-governments will be available for comments and to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

You can also show your support by signing up for our Facebook event here.

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For more information, please contact:

Rok Primozic, ESU’s Chairperson: +32/479.126.390 // rok@esu-online.org or Robert Hlynur Baldursson, ESU Communications Manager: +32/473.669.894 // robert@esu-online.org