Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Paul Grod has called on the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland to recognize the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people.
“This is not just a tragedy for Ukraine; it is a genocide. It is crucial for the world to understand that the genocide perpetrated against Ukrainians 90 years ago is still ongoing,” Grod said on a round-the-clock Ukrainian newscast.
While public opinion and lawmakers in Northern European countries generally support recognizing the Holodomor as genocide, Grod emphasized that the global Ukrainian community must work to create mechanisms that will facilitate an official declaration.
“Last year, 164 [of 200] members of parliament in Finland voiced their support for recognizing the Holodomor as genocide. However, the Finnish parliament and government have yet to issue an official declaration,” he noted.
The goal of the global Ukrainian community is not only to secure recognition of the Holodomor as genocide in Northern Europe, but across the world.
On Nov. 23, Grod also participated in a ceremony in Helsinki that honored the victims of the Holodomor-genocide, and which was organized by the Ukrainian Association in Finland.
Ukrainians around the world participated in memorial events.
Grod’s official 10-day mission to the Nordic countries, which began on Nov. 15, included a speech to Denmark’s Foreign Policy Committee, meetings with Denmark’s Minister of Defense, and discussions with Norwegian and Swedish lawmakers.
The mission, aimed at strengthening support for Ukraine, addressing issues faced by Ukrainian refugees, and raising awareness of key humanitarian and historical matters, will conclude on Nov. 25.
