Switzerland recognizes Holodomor as genocide against Ukrainians

The lower chamber of the Swiss Parliament, the National Council, has recognized the Holodomor, or death by starvation, of 1932-1933 as a genocide against the Ukrainian people. 

A majority of 123 members voted in favor of the statement, while 58 voted against it, and 7 abstained, according to the Swiss legislature’s website.

The National Council recognizes as genocide systematic actions that lead to mass starvation and are deliberately carried out “with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group as such.”

“The death by starvation of several million people nearly 90 years ago, for which the Soviet regime of Joseph Stalin was responsible, is an act of genocide,” the statement says.

The Ukrainian World Congress expressed its heartfelt gratitude to Switzerland for this significant decision on behalf of all Ukrainians.

“This is truly a historic decision. It is an extremely important step towards restoring historical justice and preserving the memory of millions of innocent victims,” stated Ruslan Stefanchuk, Ukraine’s parliamentary speaker.