Distr.: Secretariat
S-05/03/2022
3 May 2022
Russian
Original: English
STATEMENT
by International Movement Global Citizens on the changes to the existing model of the formation of the International Mediation Mission in Moscow as part of the humanitarian initiative, We’ll Bring Them Home Alive, and on the opening of the initiative, for accession it to mothers and family members of any State whose relatives detain abroad (U.S., UK, Russia, and other States)
On September 11, 2021, the 20th anniversary of the series of terrorist attacks in the United States, the Movement Global Citizens Called on the High Parties ― the United States of America and the Russian Federation, to provide support for the initiative, We’ll Bring Them Home Alive and start a dialogue on the formation of the International Mediation Mission in Moscow.
The corresponding statement was distributed to the Governments of the United States of America and the Russian Federation and leaders of political parties represented in parliaments of High Parties.
We will not provide further details at this point to guarantee the safety of the detained in the U.S. and Russia.
At the time the statement was distributed, the purpose of the International Mediation Mission in Moscow was to carry out continuous dialogue to find solutions, allowing citizens of the United States of America the detained in Russia and citizens of the Russian Federation the detained in the United States to return home to their families as part of the initiative, We’ll Bring Them Home Alive.
Due to recent events taking place in the world today, we are informing High Parties — the United States of America and the Russian Federation, of the changes to the existing model of the formation of the International Mediation Mission in Moscow within the frameworks of We’ll Bring Them Home Alive initiative and announced that the initiative We’ll Bring Them Home Alive is open to accession it for mothers and family members of any State whose relatives detain abroad (U.S., UK, Russia, and other States).
Movement Global Citizens, at its discretion, forms the composition of the International Mediation Mission in Moscow of the following category of persons:
1. Mothers and family members of any State whose relatives detain abroad;
2. Mothers and family members of any State whose loved ones were previously being detained abroad;
3. The Representatives of the Movement from among foreign human rights defenders who meet the following requirements: Persons must have work experience on the territory of Russia, speak the language of the host state, have a certain amount of knowledge about the mentality and traditions of the Russian population, and are not citizens (subjects) of the U.S., UK, Russia.
The Movement Global Citizens appoint the head of the Mission from among the representatives of the Movement who are members of the International Mediation Mission in Moscow.
In one of her works, the famous American writer Barbara Kingsolver wrote that motherhood’s strength is sometimes more than laws. It’s hard to disagree with these words. That’s why we decided to ask mothers to join the Mission.
We call upon the Russian side as a sign of good faith to treat our position with understanding and support us in this matter that directly affects the many Russian families whose members today are detained abroad.
We are convinced that this fully meets states’ national interests.
We do not allow and reject any attempts to politicize of We’ll Bring Them Home Alive initiative and give political color to the dialogue about its support from the international community.
It is unacceptable to politicize humanitarian issues related to the fate of people; they should not be held hostage by political interests.
We shouldn’t stop until persons detained abroad are in the loving arms of family and friends.
EN