On January 26, 2023, in Strasbourg, representatives of the Chechen diaspora gathered outside the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to support the rights of the Chechen people and advocate for a free and democratic future for Chechnya.
Among the participants was Oleksandr Merezhko, Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, and member of the inter-factional parliamentary association “Free Ichkeria.”
Addressing the demonstrators, Merezhko expressed support for the Chechen people’s aspirations for freedom, democracy, and the right to determine their own future. He emphasized the importance of international solidarity in defending human rights, the rule of law, and democratic values.
Who Is Oleksandr Merezhko?
Oleksandr Merezhko is a Ukrainian legal scholar, Doctor of Law, Professor, and Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Since 2019, he has served as Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation. He is also a member of Ukraine’s Permanent Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
In December 2022, Merezhko initiated the creation of the inter-factional parliamentary association “Free Ichkeria” in the Ukrainian Parliament. The association brought together lawmakers from different political parties to support international dialogue on the de-occupation of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, the protection of the rights of the Chechen people, and the development of democratic institutions.
The demonstration in Strasbourg served as an opportunity to draw international attention to human rights issues, political repression, and the future of the peoples of the North Caucasus.