TOGETHER WE STOP WAR

On February 22, 2022 the Russian armed forces crossed the border and entered the territory of Ukraine.

On February 24, 2022 at night, the first strikes were made on the military infrastructure of Ukrainian cities.

A full-scale war has been unleashed between two neighboring states, whose peoples until recently were considered fraternal, and today the degree of mutual hatred has been brought to open Nazism.

Reasonable people should understand that the consequences of this, at first glance, local military conflict can plunge the whole world into a third world war with monstrous consequences for all mankind.

We, Ahiska Turks, are a small nation, which, as a result ofcolonial and world wars, as well as interethnic conflicts, was scattered across nine countries of the world, including Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. And there is no historical motherland where we can freely return to.  More than anyone else, we are aware of the detrimental consequences of this war for civilians in Ukraine and Russia with millions of refugees forced to leave their places of permanent residence to save the lives of their children, relatives, and friends.

Understanding the consequences of hostilities and strongly condemning them, we are deeply concerned about the safety of all people living in or visiting Ukraine. And we feel our responsibility to help 2,680 Ahiska Turkish families currently living in nine regions of Ukraine: Kherson region (1,500 families), Zaporozhye region (140 families), Mykolaiv region (280 families), Kharkiv region (150 families), Sumy regions (50 families), Donetsk region (50 families), Odessa region (250 families), Kyiv region (120 families), Poltava region (140 families). There are 2,680 families in total, or approximately 11,000 people.

On behalf of the Ahiska Turkish Community of the United States of America, represented by the Ahiska Turkish American Council, the Washington, DC - based nonprofit organization assisting Ahiska Turkish people in the United States and throughout the world:

 

- We appeal to the presidents of Russia and Ukraine with a demand for the immediate cessation of all hostilities, and to begin the process of peaceful settlement of all differences at the negotiating table. 

- We appeal to the US State Department, IOM, otherinternational organizations with the initiative to create a fund to help refugees from Ukraine and open humanitarian programs to receive refugees from the war zone. Requesting assistance from the International Organization for Migration to resettle 2,680 Ahiska Turkish families from Ukraine to the United States under any existing refugee program.

- We ask US Senators and Representatives to support our request and take immediate action to save lives.

- We appeal to Ahiska Turkish public organizations in all countries of residence to support our initiative to start the formation of an anti-war movement and support any peaceful forms of anti-war protest. We call on all diasporas of peoples inhabiting Ukraine and living in the US to provide all possible support in organizing the reception of refugees in the United States.

- We ask people, whose actions and words have weight in the society, to become the part of the anti-war movement and oppose the war. Do this if only to put out the flames of the growing fire of war, the consequences of which will affect the well-being of every person throughout the world.

- We announce the beginning of the collection of signatures for this petition.

In our view, such armed combatant actions pose a threat to security and world peace, with high chances of a catastrophic number of casualties.

It is our duty to be available when we are capable to provide one of the most important yet basic human rights to ordinary people for the safety and the respect of their life.  We strongly condemn the criminal actions of those who unleashed this war and ask you to assist in the resettlement of Ahiska Turkish families from Ukraine to the United States of America. We are ready to provide all kinds of support, including financial support, in matters of migration of our compatriots to the United States, their resettlement and adaptation, as well as provide additional details, contacts and connections in these much-needed immediate actions.