Ukrainian Delegates Walk Out of European Youth Forum
Ukrainian delegates exited the European Youth Forum in Strasbourg, the largest youth event in Europe, held biennially in the European Parliament. The reason for their departure was the speech by Daria Navalnaya, the daughter of a Russian opposition leader, who was highlighted by the organizers as one of the key speakers.
The event took place on June 14. In a video message, Solomiya Koval, Taya Mamchak, and Darina Pidlubna, members of the Ukrainian delegation from Lviv, which this year holds the title of European Youth Capital, expressed their position.
“We learned about Navalnaya's speech only in the hall. There was no prior warning. She spoke about human rights and freedom of speech while Russia is daily violating these rights in Ukraine,” the participants stated.
Daria Navalnaya participated in one of the main discussion panels and delivered a keynote inspirational speech. Organizers emphasized her speech as significant for the entire event.
The Ukrainian delegates stressed that this is unacceptable.
“We came from a country that faces attacks every day. Our peers are dying at the front. Seeing a Russian taking a key role in the European Parliament is offensive to us and our struggle,” they declared.
This was not an isolated incident: a Russian lawyer, Vyacheslav Samonov, also spoke at the forum. Additionally, Russian was heard in the hallways of the forum. Key speakers included Russians, but not Ukrainians, despite Lviv's title as European Youth Capital and the delegation coming from a country that pays a high price for freedom.
“The European Parliament has enough experts to avoid inviting representatives from an aggressor state, especially without explanations and prior notice. That is why we left the hall. We will not remain silent,” the representatives emphasized.
The situation was also commented on by Lviv's mayor, Andriy Sadovyi.
“I do not understand why Ukrainians have to defend their country in one part of Europe while participating in public events on the same level as Russians in another, listening to a keynote speech from a Russian woman.
We will send an official letter to the President of the European Parliament. Ukrainian youth must be heard,” the mayor of Lviv stressed.
