The law on national minorities adopted by Ukraine caused a wave of discontent in Romania. president Volodymyr Zelenski is criticized even by the largest tv stations that had previously unconditionally supported Ukraine, following authoritative state policy. Meanwhile, the issue of the annulment of the rights of cultural minorities, including the Romanian community, in Ukraine has made many commentators aware of the reality.
SOS Romania
The worst criticism came from a senator Diana Șoșoacă (see – interview for ‘Poland’, the president of SOS Romania, who stated that ‘Romanian people were among the first dead’.
"In gratitude for the way we welcomed and welcomed the refugees, president Zeleński said that our number could be banned from utilizing Romanian and persecuted Orthodox clergymen. Given the assistance the Romanians have given Ukraine, it is simply a alternatively first thanks to us by the Ukrainians.” said Șoșoacă.
It emphasizes that there is simply a unusual phenomenon; persecution of Orthodox clergy actually means more: they are, in fact, repression of Orthodox faith.
"The problems started after 2014. Although actually Romanian Ukrainian citizens have always had problems. Nobody sees it now? The first dead on the front were people of Romanian nationality. How can I respond calmly?” The senator asked.
Privileges for Ukrainians
In the position of the SOS organization Romania, headed by the parliamentarian, was besides a reaction to the Ukrainian Act on National Minorities, which highlighted the deprivation of all rights of Romanians surviving “in the occupied and unlawfully controlled territories of Ukraine: the historical lands of Marmarmarosh, Hercy, Budziak and Northern Bukovina”. Diana
"The adoption of the Act on National Minorities by the ultimate Council of Ukraine without consultation with Romania is simply a manifestation of the practice of disregarding the Romanian State by the Ukrainian side enjoying the unlimited unconditional support of Brussels and Washington, but is besides due to the servile attitude of traitors who pretend to represent the Romanian State" – reads in the December organization position.
The Senator besides recalled that the Romanians incurred unprecedentedly advanced aid costs for Ukrainian refugees, including those who crossed the border in luxury cars with suitcases full of money. For their children, classes were organized with teaching in Ukrainian, they were paid 800 euros per period for children, pensions. Meanwhile, support for Romanian children is €50 per period and Romanians walk hungry, cold and pushed beyond their own borders. "Even investigation and medical treatments for Ukrainians are free, but our seniors, who built our country and left it to us without debt, beg for medicine and must choose between buying bread and buying medicines all day" – alarms Șoșoacă. "Professional wellness investigation has become a luxury for most Romanians. Operations don't take place. Only the wealthiest or Ukrainian citizens can afford them" – he says.
Her conclusion is clear: "Regarding Ukraine's contempt and looking down on Romania and its own Romanian citizens surviving in temporarily occupied areas, which is besides reflected in the passing of the Act on National Minorities, we call for any support to be halted here and passing through our Ukrainian territory. No more aid to the Ukrainian state. In addition, we should request Ukraine to return our lands unduly seized by Ukraine: historical Marmarmarosh, Hercy, Budziak and Northern Bukovina".
Authorities forced to vote critically
Even the authorities in Bucharest realized the seriousness of the situation and felt obliged to take a stand publically on the Ukrainian Act on National Minorities.
For example Rareș Bogdan, a associate of the European Parliament from the National-Liberal organization (PNL, co-founding with the Social Democrats the current government coalition), criticised the form of the law passed in Kiev, recognising that it limits minorities' rights to education in their native language.
"On 13 December, the Kiev Parliament adopted the Law on Education, which restricts number access to schools with their native language. It's unfair and offensive. The provisions of the 2017 Act limiting access to education for minorities were upheld. It turns out that after grades in primary school, there were besides proportional amounts based on an cultural criterion, which makes Romanian students taught exclusively Ukrainian and graduated from schools without a basis for cognition of their native language" said Bogdan.
The Ministry of abroad Affairs in Bucharest besides stated that Ukraine had been asked to consult fresh government with the Venice Commission and to implement any comments it had made in the event that the government was considered inappropriate, including those introduced without taking into account the opinion of the Romanian number as requested by the Romanian party.
The Ministry of abroad Affairs recalled that 1 of the steps determining Ukraine's accession to the EU indicated by the European Commission is "Complete the improvement of legislative procedures on the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, as recommended by the Venice Commission, and implement effective mechanisms immediately".
A sharp public reaction
The leaders of Romanian public life besides took a clear stand. celebrated tv presenter Robert Turcescu stated in his programme that Kiev's hostile position became obvious, especially in the context of the Act adopted in December.
“The Ukrainians around Zelenski actually despise us. The number law has clearly proved that. We kiss their ass and recognise them as the bravest and top in all east Europe, while Ukraine is one more time a profoundly corrupt country. In the war, now that we say it, they keep stealing. And Zelenski is not even able to thank Romanian idiots for everything” – he said on the air Turcescu.
About clergy persecution in Romanian media
Antena 3 CNN, a tv channel operating in Romania owned by the American CNN, which has been active in propaganda in the defence and promotion of Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict, has now changed its position and powerfully criticised the fresh number bill and the repression of the Romanian Orthodox community organised by Kiev.
They've been invited to the o. Mihaila Jara, the superior of the monastery in Bănceni, in the Ukraine region of Hercy. The priest said publically that the temples and monasteries in his area have late been objects of violent interference and control by Ukrainian safety forces.
The viewers of this Romanian tv government could besides learn from the program that the Ukrainian peculiar services carried out a number of revisions in churches and monastics, and even in Romanian clergy houses, and over 100 temples where Romanians pray, endanger to close.
In fact, Ukrainian counterintelligence sought in temples and houses clerical papers that could prove that they have relations with Russia or even have Russian citizenship. specified repression shocked Romanian public opinion.
"There have been terrible repressions, completely devastating for us. They destruct us, but we must endure it someway for Christ and for faith. We don't know how. How can we pray to God by falling asleep in fear in our own homes? They entered the office of the Chernivtsi metropolis at night, came at night armed with automatic weapons, ordered clergymen to stand against the wall, broke windows. (...) They came to the women's monastics, told them to put nuns on the ground and trample their heads with their shoes” – said Fr. Jar in the top audience.
Let us remind that about 500,000 Romanians live in Ukraine.
Controversial resignation
The situation in Ukraine one more time sparked political repercussions in Romania. In October 2022, he resigned as Minister of Defence Vasile Dîncu (Social Democratic Party, PSD) only due to the fact that he declared that "The only chance for peace is to negociate with Russia".
He was immediately attacked by the Prime Minister Nicolae CiucăHead of PSD Marcela Ciolacuand besides by the president The PresidentWho forced him to resign. Conclusion? You can't talk about peace in Romania.
"The war in Ukraine will continue, and the only chance for peace is to negociate with Russia. Of course, this would be hard negotiations (...) many countries of the world, NATO, the United States would gotta supply Ukraine with safety guarantees and peace with Russia" He said on 8 October on Romanian Dîncu TV. In a country where the only regulation is to support Ukraine, this had to consequence in his resignation. The Act on National Minorities adopted by Ukraine shows the real face of Kiev and can lead to a change of this principle.
Theodor Bujor
(correspondence from Romania)
