The Global Citizens International Movement welcomes the efforts of the American side to promote a dialogue with the Russian side for the release and return home of American citizens Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. Griner and Whelan are currently detained on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The release of the citizens of the United States is one of the sensitive issues we have been discussing since the launch of the International Civil Initiative “Well Bring Them Home Alive.” The initiative was announced on September 11, 2021, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States.
We have repeatedly called on the American side to support our initiative. It must be noted that, unfortunately, our appeals have not been given due attention.
The nomination of career diplomat Lynne M. Tracy for the post of ambassador to Russia is cautiously optimistic.
We continue to follow with concern the alarming increase in the number of citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Russia, and other States detained in the territory of foreign States or self-proclaimed entities.
This situation requires immediate correction.
We do not diminish the importance of the foreign policy departments of States dealing with the citizens of their countries who are detained in the territory of foreign countries and not only by them but in one way or another; the truly universal platform is Track II Diplomacy.
We constantly emphasize that modern diplomacy is experiencing fundamental changes at an unprecedented pace, affecting the very character of diplomacy as we know it.
Diplomacy is no longer just about foreign ministries and governments if this was ever the case. It is about nongovernmental players. It is about civil society groups, private foundations, and the forces of disorder.
Earlier said, the American diplomat and a career ambassador with a 32-year diplomatic career, William J. Burns.
We call on the foreign ministries, diplomats, and governments of the parties concerned, whose citizens are detained on the territory of foreign countries or in self-proclaimed entities, in the same logic, to consider the component of the activity, the officials who deal with the release and return home, the citizens of their countries.
They must change their tactics to address the problem and share their responsibility for the results with family members whose families and loved ones are detained in a foreign state’s territory or in self-proclaimed entities and independent human rights defenders.
Building a state where society and Government trust each other and can co-create in an unfavorable environment is the main project for all world countries in the coming years. We are all aware of how difficult it is to carry out.
Once again, we call on American parliamentarians, politicians, and officials to work together to secure the release of American citizens. We really need your help.
We invite HE Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and all responsible members of the international community to support the efforts of the Global Citizens International Movement to save lives within the framework of the International Civil Initiative “We’ll Bring Them Home Alive.”
We also call upon the mothers and family members of persons detained in the territory of a foreign State or in self-proclaimed entities to join the International Civil Initiative “We’ll Bring Them Home Alive.”
Prayer and criticism of the Government is also a way of acting. However, that is not enough. Mothers need to do something, not just criticize the authorities and wait. Families must assume some responsibility for the future of their relatives and loved ones in detention.
We must not stop until those who are detained abroad find themselves in the loving arms of their family and friends, and we will succeed, however tricky that path may seem today.
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