On Tuesday, the communist group in the Ukrainian Parliament was dissolved by government's decision. The next day, began a totally arbitrary and unjustified lawsuit to ban the Ukrainian communist party.

The Party of the European Left condemns in the strongest terms these acts of repression against a responsible and respectable political party. In fact, its only fault is to be the main left-wing opposition to a government of oligarchs and extreme right, not even democratically elected.

The EL alerts all democrat forces in Europe. We must not let false charges of "separatism" or "terrorism" to soil a party that has always campaigned for the integrity of the territory of Ukraine and claims democratic consultation of the people on the sovereign, political, economic and strategic choices of the country. We must prevent the banning of a party with a strong popular base and represented in parliament.

Otherwise, who will be pointed out tomorrow? All critical citizens – and consequently pluralism, democracy and human rights - are threatened. We call on all democrats in Europe to refuse those authoritarian practices and to mobilize for their national authorities to intervene.

25 July 2014