Statement | Regarding renewing the negotiation process on the exemption of citizens of Ukraine deprived of liberty on the territory of Russia, Crimea, Donbas (ORDLO) within the framework of the “Bring Them Home Alive” initiative

Executive Office of the Global Citizens
Global Movement Coordinator
September 11, 2021                                                                   

Original: English
Russian

The Global Citizens Global Movement,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and recalling the International Covenants on Human Rights and other relevant instruments,

Recalling United Nations resolution 65/283 of 22 June 2011 on Strengthening the role of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention, and resolution, which encourages and recognizes the critical role of the good offices of civil society actors active in mediation,

Welcoming the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued commitment to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, to efforts to promote freedom and justice throughout the world,

Welcoming also Russia’s position at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly of its readiness to cooperate with all relevant non-governmental organizations,

Expressing serious concern about the situation and the future fate of American citizens deprived of their liberty on the territory of Russia and about the situation and the future fate of Russian citizens deprived of their liberty on the territory of the U.S.,

Declaring that it is the primary responsibility of each State to respect, promote and fulfil human rights, and to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of its entire population,

Noting the Ukrainian government’s appeal to U.S. President Joe Biden for assistance on the issue of the resumption of the negotiation process regarding the release of citizens of Ukraine deprived of liberty on the territory of Russia, Crimea, Donbas (ORDLO),

The Global Citizens Movement presents its compliments to all interested parties in the two world capitals: Washington and Moscow and, based on the above positions, has the honor to bring to their attention the following:

Reaffirming its commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, which are indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world, and reiterating its determination to foster strict respect for them and to establish a just and lasting peace all over the world, the Global Citizens, unveils a new civic initiative aimed at renewing the negotiation process regarding the release of citizens of Ukraine deprived of liberty on the territory of Russia, Crimea, Donbas (ORDLO).

The Global Citizens Global Movement:

1. Calls upon all interested parties in the two world capitals: Washington and Moscow, capable of contributing to a final solution and creating the momentum necessary to resolve the issues raised by Ukraine, as a goodwill gesture by the United States and Russia to support the Global Citizens Movement’s Model for Resolving the Situation and to and promote the beginning of an inclusive dialogue;
2. Notes that despite all serious efforts made by the Ukrainian Side to resume negotiations to achieve the well-known and internationally recognized goals of the peace process, a just and lasting solution to the issue of the release of Ukrainian citizens deprived of their liberty, unfortunately, remains far from being achieved;
3. Stresses that due to the current circumstances, it is absolutely necessary for the Ukrainian Side to achieve certain conditions of this political deal, while avoiding independently defending these conditions: As a rule, diplomats often solve this problem by bringing in the other country’s team to get what they want instead of insisting on it themselves;
4. Thinks: In such circumstances, Good Offices by persons who have work experience on the territory of Russia, from the category of U.S. diplomats and foreign human rights activists, civil society actors that work to protect human rights, must be needed more than ever and encouraged by all concerned to break the current deadlock and work toward an early resumption on a permanent basis of the negotiation process in Moscow, until the full settlement of all humanitarian issues by interested parties: Including issues related to U.S. and Russian nationals deprived of their liberty;
5. Respectfully requests His Excellency Mr. William Burns, U.S. statesman and, without exaggeration, an outstanding diplomat of our time, with tremendous experience in Russia, together with those interested in Washington as a goodwill gesture by the United States to support the proposed Global Citizens Model and to assist in the formation of a Mediation Mission to work in Moscow, from among the persons mentioned above: Global Citizens will shortly send an official appeal on this subject;
6. Recognizes that the implementation of the proposed Model is possible only with the goodwill of the United States and Russia, and once again calls upon all interested parties in the two world capitals: Washington and Moscow, capable of contributing to a final solution and creating the momentum necessary to resolve the issues raised by Ukraine, as a sign of goodwill to support the Global Citizens Movement’s Model for Resolving the Situation and to and promote the beginning of an inclusive dialogue;
7. Calls also urge individuals, when considering the Notice of this Initiative: to rise above their personal desires, beliefs and preferences, and to become part of a human society where human life is the highest value;
8. Does not allow and rejects any attempts by the international community to politicize the civil initiative and give it a political color. Compassion and humanism regarding the future fate of people deprived of their freedom should rise above politics;
9. Also requests the media and individual journalists to support the civil initiative and make efforts for further transmission of information about the initiative to its high destination;
10. Decides to send Notice of this Initiative to all interested parties, through embassies in their capitals and other available communication channels;
11. Decides also that the two official languages of the United Nations English, and Russian, are the working languages of the Initiative.

The United States & Russia
Ukraine

Sep 22, 2021 | President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky

Sep 22, 2021 | Within the framework of the international Global Citizens Initiative aimed at renewing the negotiation process about the release of citizens of Ukraine deprived of liberty on the territory of Russia, Crimea, Donbas (ORDLO), the Movement has circulated an appeal to all leaders of factions and groups of the Ukrainian Parliament, inviting them to present their views to open a dialogue with interested parties and discuss ways to achieve the goals of the Initiative

Sep 15, 2021 | Calling on the Holy See to make the utmost effort to bring an end to the plight of detainees and help them to return to their families, to return home