Public calls on Zelenskyy to keep reintegration in the government’s focus

To the President of Ukraine

Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy

STATEMENT

on ensuring the implementation of the powers of the Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories

Dear Mr. President!

At the beginning of September, after a reshuffle in the Government, information emerged about the intention to “liquidate” the Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories (MinReintegration) and to exercise some of its powers by the Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine (MinRegion). Despite the absence of an official position of the Government, some statements by government officials suggest that the systemic reintegration policy is being discontinued and that these powers are being dispersed among different authorities.

We, the representatives of national non-governmental and international organizations, believe that the decision to liquidate the MinReintegration is premature. It can lead to negative consequences. First and foremost, it is a signal to both Ukrainians and our partners that Ukraine is not ready to work on regaining control over the currently occupied territories, protecting people affected by Russian aggression and restoring justice.

The Peace Formula you have proposed is not only for the international community, it also requires Ukraine’s leadership in its implementation at home. The liberation of parts of the Kharkiv and Kherson regions has demonstrated that overcoming the consequences of the occupation, ensuring the restoration of power and life in the territories that have been occupied for less than a year, requires significant efforts on the part of the state and its partners. Without a systematic reintegration policy, it will not be possible to implement such points of the Peace Formula as “Restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity”, “Withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities”, “Restoration of justice”, “Confirmation of the end of the war”. Without regaining control over the currently occupied territories, it will not be possible to return forcibly displaced children and release civilian hostages held in illegal prisons in the occupied territories of Ukraine and in the territory of the RF.

So far, it is the MinReintegration that has been responsible for a wide range of powers related to overcoming the consequences of the war: from coordinating the evacuation of the population from the frontline areas to supporting the families of political prisoners and maintaining communication with Ukrainians in the TOT. Obviously, not all of the currently defined powers of the MinReintegration can and should be implemented by the MinRegion. Of course, the support, development and further restoration of the de-occupied territories of Ukraine should be carried out in a single logic of Ukraine’s development and restoration of all territories affected by the armed aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, there is a high risk of losing some of the powers over people affected by the armed aggression against Ukraine if the government does not have a ministry directly responsible for developing a coherent policy.

We urge you, dear Mr. President, to support the retention of the ministry responsible for people affected by the war in the Government – ​​regardless of where they are: in the occupied territories, Government-controlled areas or abroad. You mentioned this in October 2019 at the Unity Forum in Mariupol, and people-centered policies should remain in the spotlight. True national unity is only possible when all those affected by the war have a voice and protection from their state. A possible way to restart the MinReintegration could be to transform it into the Ministry of National Unity, which would ensure that the national dimension of the Peace Formula is fully implemented.

CF “EAST-SOS”

Human Rights Center ZMINA

NGO “Donbas SOS”

NGO “CrimeaSOS”

NGO “Civil Holding GROUP OF INFLUENCE”

CF “Right to Protection”

CF “Stabilization Support Services”

NGO “School for Policy Analysis”

Crimean Human Rights Group

Coalition “On the Contact Line”

NGO “Crimean Process”

NGO “Stehzyna dodomu”

CF “Foundation Volunteers without borders”

NGO “Zlagoda STAR”

NGO “Kolo yednosti”

NGO “Ukraine.Time to Unite”

NGO “Space of women’s opportunities ACTIVEL”

NGO “My Independent Country” (MIC)

NGO “Public initiatives “Alliance

NGO “Our souls are not indifferent”

NGO Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research (UCIPR), National Platform for Resilience and Social Cohesion

NGO “Driada”

Media Initiative for Human Rights

Public Union “Human Rights House Crimea”

NGO “Centre of civil education “Almenda”

NGO “Institute of Peace and Common Ground”

NGO “Blue Bird”

NGO “Foundation for Fundamental Research”

NGO “Youth Center for Regional Development”

CO “CF “Bratslavska hromada”

NGO “TRYZVUK”

NGO “Parents’ Association “Ray of Hope”

NGO “Donbas Internally Displaced Persons Association “Dobrotvor”

NGO “Shlach dobra”

NGO “United Veterans Movement “Interaction”

Mediation and Dialogue Research Center, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy

NGO “Odessa Regional Group of Mediation”

NGO “TROI”

CO “Chhyryn district development fund”

NGO “Human Rights Platform”

NGO “Social Action Center”

NGO “Free Country Communities”

IG Khmilnyk

Regional Center for Human Rights

NGO “Academy of Strategic Studies”

NGO “Access Point”

NGO “Spilno HUB

Public organization “Litay”

Kharkiv Institute for Social Research (KhISR)

NGO “Center for Civil Initiatives “Donbas”

DIYA Human Rights Center

NGO “EGIDA-CENTRE”

CU “Educational Human Rights Center – Chernihiv”

NGO “Student Youth of Bahmut”

NGO Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group

NGO Center for Support of Public and Cultural Initiatives “Tamarisk”

NGO “From Dream to Action”

If you want to join and sign the appeal, please write about it to media@zmina.ua