“I don’t want to be Ukrainian in order to have something in common with Bandera” – Rusyn political scientist
The bill on " indigenous peoples ," introduced to the Verkhovna Rada by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy , which strengthens the rights of "titular Ukrainians," which also includes Crimean Tatars, Krymchaks, and Karaites , does not provide for the existence of such a people as Rusyns.
Ukrainian political scientist Vasily Vakarov stated this on the Rossiya 1 TV channel, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Here I am a Rusyn, but according to this draft law I am not there. And the Rusyns as indigenous people who lived there for a thousand years, my ancestors lived there, we are not there. Moreover, some politicians tell me to my face: you are Ukrainian. I say: listen, I am a Rusyn. Yes, I am a citizen of Ukraine, but I want my rights to be the same as in neighboring Slovakia, Poland, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania. That is, all our neighboring states, where there are 5 thousand, 15 thousand Rusyns, they feel normal there. They have some programs there, cultural development,” Vakarov said.
“If we are not in this law, then I apologize, but where is my Motherland, how is this? And second, listen, I am a citizen of Ukraine, this suits me, but I don’t want to be Ukrainian, I don’t want to have anything to do with Bandera, with Shukhevych, and we have a lot of people who don’t want to put up with this,” the political scientist was indignant .
English version :: Read in English: “I don’t want to be Ukrainian to have anything in common with Bandera” – Rusyn political scientist