This letter serves as a formal petition to AIESEC INTERNATIONAL from the alumni of AIESEC UKRAINE regarding a critical issue. We, the undersigned alumni of AIESEC Ukraine, strongly urge AIESEC INTERNATIONAL to immediately halt all activities in Russia.

Since 2014, Russia has been engaged in a hybrid war against Ukraine, starting with the annexation of Crimea and the subsequent seizure of power in the Donbass region by Russian special operations forces. This started in year 2014 conflict has resulted in the displacement of several million Ukrainian citizens, including many AIESEC alumni, who now find themselves as refugees and facing extreme hardships. In 2014, AIESEC Russia initially showed support for AIESEC Ukraine and expressed disagreement with the official policies of the Russian Government. However, a few years later, when AIESEC Ukraine's activities became impossible in Crimea (2016-2017), AIESEC Russia attempted to resume operations in the occupied territories under its own authority. The alumni of AIESEC Ukraine then and now find such behavior unacceptable, as it contradicts the organization's stated values of global progressive leadership, multiculturalism, and mutual understanding.

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a treacherous attack on Ukraine, initiating a full-scale war across its entire territory. For 496 days and counting, this war has been the most devastating and destructive conflict in Europe since World War II. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have lost their lives, and millions have been displaced, losing their homes and their sense of security. Tragically, over one hundred AIESEC alumni have already lost their lives in this war. How many more Ukrainians, including AIESEC Ukraine alumni, must sacrifice their lives, livelihoods, and dreams for a normal life before AIESEC INTERNATIONAL recognizes the grave mistake of not immediately suspending all activities in Russia?

It is crucial to understand that Vladimir Putin represents the Pinochet and Hitler of our time. In Russia, an atmosphere resembling the Third Reich has been created, with dissenters being denounced and trials conducted against opponents of the war. People with differing opinions on this conflict have been silenced, fearing repression and severe punishments, including lengthy prison terms of up to 25 years. Under such conditions, it is impossible to foster progressive leadership. Who, apart from the Hitler Youth, can be raised under a dictatorship? Regrettably, AIESEC Russia remains silent, observing the massacre in Ukraine. There have been instances where Russian AIESEC members directly supported volunteers collecting aid for the occupying Ukraine Russian army, which has been responsible for killing Ukrainians, destroying cities, and carrying out terror and genocide in the occupied territories for over a year. Is this the kind of "leadership" AIESEC INTERNATIONAL aims to promote in Russia? It is baffling to comprehend the silence and inaction.

The rest of the world recognizes the danger emanating from the Vladimir Putin’s regime. Many responsible international companies, including those that have historically supported AIESEC globally, have left Russia due to the risks posed to their businesses. Supporting the Putin regime would lead to significant reputational damage, hampering future business development, and jeopardizing the interests of shareholders. Most multinational companies have made the responsible choice to disassociate themselves from Russia. However, the most progressive youth organization, AIESEC, remains passive, continuing operations in a country where the prevailing societal development contradicts its core goals and objectives, and tarnishing its reputation, which has never been more critical in its history.
Given these circumstances, we, the AIESEC Alumni of Ukraine, firmly believe that we have the right to demand that AIESEC INTERNATIONAL immediately suspend all activities in Russia. We engaged in dialogue with AIESEC Russia and AI in 2022, but we did not receive a clear stance on the war in Ukraine from either party. Both entities relied on generic statements about the non-political nature of the organization. However, in times of war, with the existence of Ukraine and its people at stake, we cannot accept AI's insistence on "non-intervention." We will take active measures. We give you a 40-day ultimatum to voluntarily suspend all organizational activities in Russia. Failure to comply will lead us to actively inform all (!) donors and sponsors of the organization that, in our view, by supporting activities in Russia, AI is effectively condoning the organization itself, its goals, and its objectives. Given the lack of democratic institutions in Putin's Russia and the society's inability to exert any meaningful influence on the authorities, the only avenue for change is an armed uprising. In Russia, democratic institutions have all but disappeared, leaving citizens with no means to effect change through peaceful means. Only armed rebellion can bring about any significant transformation in the country. In such circumstances, the continuation of exchange programs, leadership seminars, and other AIESEC projects is merely self-deception and a direct discredit to the organization. Moreover, active hostilities have already commenced within Russia's borders. Under these conditions, the continuation of exchange programs poses a direct risk to the lives and well-being of exchange-program participants. AIESEC Russia can resume normal activities once Russia itself returns to a state of normalcy. Until then, genuine organizational activity is impossible, and any further AIESEC undertakings in the country would be a mockery of its true purpose. It's important to stand up for what you believe in and work towards peace. We, aiesec-alumni members from Ukraine, have done it by means of signing this petition. And we hope, that this time AIESEC INTERNATIONAL will hear our voice…