Workers and young people in Australia and New Zealand continue to register their support for the struggle to free imprisoned Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk. He is the victim of a grotesque political frame-up.
Syrotiuk was arrested in late April by the far-right Zelensky regime, charged with high treason and slandered as aiding the Russian government.
Syrotiuk is the leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL), a Trotskyist organisation that operates throughout the former Soviet Union. The true reason for his arrest is that Bogdan and the YGBL are fighting to end the war led by the US and NATO by uniting workers in Russia, Ukraine and internationally against all of the capitalist governments, including the Putin regime.
Since the campaign for his freedom has been launched, the WSWS has been banned from Ukraine, further demonstrating that Syrotiuk’s imprisonment is the sharpest expression of an assault on all left-wing anti-war movements.
As part of the global campaign for his freedom, the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) held global pickets and lobbies on June 13 outside Ukrainian embassies. The ICFI issued an open letter, which detailed the circumstances around his persecution. The WSWS calls on you to support the campaign for Bogdan’s freedom.
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Crystal, an executive member of the IYSSE at Victorian University
Donna, a health worker from Victoria
Free Bogdan Syrotiuk!
I write from Australia in support of this young man in Ukraine who’s clearly done nothing wrong.
Bogdan has only ever spoken for the everyday people, the workers of world, reaching out to those in both Ukraine and Russia who are victims and unwilling participants suffering because of this war.
Bogdan dared to publicly declare his anti-war stance. For that, the SBU (Ukrainian state security service) has shoved him in a jail and accused him of treason. He is facing the possibility of 15 years’ imprisonment, with reports that a number of legal representatives were too intimidated to defend him.
Anyone with a general understanding of the distinctions between Stalinism and Trotskyism would clearly see that Bogdan and Trotskyist organisations, such as the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL), have zero in common with the current Putin regime.
Furthermore, it is undemocratic that the WSWS has been banned in Ukraine, and various political groups have been outlawed. It’s a blatant disregard for the rule of law. People have the right to express their opinions, including the freedom to criticise the government in healthy democracies.
The WSWS does not support Putin at all! They denounce the 2022 Russian invasion of the Ukraine. They don’t support NATO or Zelensky either. Shame on the Ukrainian government for censoring the WSWS!
They’re treating Bogdan like Julian Assange. These governments are so arrogant, treating the working class like they’re stupid. It is their warmongering actions, invading countries, dealing weapons, censoring news websites, and imprisoning whistleblowers, anti-war activists and socialists, that’s the real criminal activity.
Bogdan Syrotiuk should be released!
Albert from Victoria
My solidarity is with Comrade Bogdan Syrotiuk, who has been arrested by Ukraine’s fascist authorities on fraudulent charges. Bogdan is a socialist and was calling for the unity of workers in Russia and Ukraine to fight against the NATO-led war against Russia.
Bogdan is a victim of Zelensky’s brutal regime, which is acting on behalf of its paymasters in US, Europe and other Western allies. The Zelensky regime is a puppet of Western governments and is being used to instigate a major war in the world.
The only force that can stop this coming war, prepared by the ruling class of the capitalist world, is the working class of the world. The working class and our children will be the ones to be sent to the frontline. They will be slaughtered in the name of nationalism and other propaganda for the benefit of the capitalists and the imperialists.
Bogdan could see right through the propaganda and the brutality that is played out in Gaza and Ukraine and took a stand from a working-class perspective. This clarity of analysis from Bogdan is a direct threat to fascistic regimes and hence he has been fraudulently charged and put in prison.
His health is not well, and he is only 25 years old. We demand his release immediately and support the International Committee of the Fourth International’s call for the freedom of our comrade
David, an artist in New Zealand
My heart goes out to Bogdan Syrotiuk, the 25-year-old leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (the YGBL).
Such a brave person to speak out for peace in his own country when it was obvious that such a message would not be welcomed by the authorities.
His incarceration was all but certain. Anyone who stands up for peace in a country at war is inevitably labelled a coward at best and a traitor at worst, by those who want to prosecute an unjust and unnecessary war.
Far from being a coward and traitor, Bogdan has been courageous and is putting the well-being of Ukrainians and Russians ahead of his own safety.
Two and a half years after the conflict started, Bogdan’s worst fears have been fulfilled with over a million dead and wounded soldiers, millions of displaced citizens and a continuing march towards the use of nuclear weapons.
I can but salute Bogdan for his bravery, wish for his freedom, and hope the Ukrainian people stand up together and say “no more!”