In advance of the second anniversary of the Russian military’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Freedom House president Michael J. Abramowitz issued the following statement:
“Today we express our solidarity with the Ukrainian people as they continue to bravely defend their freedom and sovereignty against the Kremlin’s unprovoked aggression. We also pause to reflect on the human cost and unforgivable devastation of this war, for which Russian president Vladimir Putin and his henchmen must be held accountable.
The Russian military’s deliberate attacks on population centers and critical infrastructure, its destruction of entire cities like Mariupol and Bakhmut, its predatory behavior toward civilians in occupied territories, and its systematic abduction of Ukrainian children are repugnant to freedom-loving people everywhere.
“This anniversary is a day for democratic governments to renew their commitment to a Ukrainian victory, on Ukraine’s terms, and to the flourishing of its democracy after the war. The people of Ukraine have not faltered in the face of authoritarian violence, and neither should Ukraine’s foreign partners, for whom the stakes are high regardless of their distance from the front lines.
If the free world fails to stand resolutely with Ukraine in this moment, we will be forced to confront a stronger, more vicious Russian regime and an array of other hostile dictatorships that have been emboldened by our faltering response.
“Freedom House calls on policymakers to continue to supply Ukraine with much-needed military, humanitarian, and budgetary assistance. We also urge governments to seize frozen Russian assets—particularly in the United States and the European Union—and repurpose them to assist with Ukraine’s reconstruction. To hold Putin and associates like Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka accountable for their crimes, the international community should establish a special tribunal, and donors should sustain support for Ukrainian experts collecting evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“Finally, we must help create the conditions for Ukraine’s people to defend and improve their democracy in the long term. Freedom House urges members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to build consensus on security guarantees in the region and ultimately extend an offer of membership to Ukraine. And as Ukraine begins its accession negotiations with the EU, democratic partners should continue to support the democratic reforms necessary for entry.
“Ukrainians are fighting for their lives, their sovereignty, their democracy, and their future. The outcome of this war will have consequences that span continents and generations. We must not abandon their cause, which is inseparable from our own.”
