The Senedd (Welsh parliament) has unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the 1932-33 Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people. The announcement came from the Ukrainian Embassy in London on 25 October, heralding it as a “significant milestone in restoring historical justice and raising awareness about the millions of innocent victims.”
Alongside recognizing the Holodomor, Wales’ parliament also paid tribute to Welsh journalist Gareth Jones, who reported in Western media on the atrocities against Ukrainians he witnessed in 1933 during the Holodomor despite receiving explicit warnings from the Soviet authorities to remain silent. His legacy, as stated by the embassy, “deserves a wider recognition by the international community.”
The Senedd’s resolution also notes that the Welsh parliament stands with the Ukrainian people as “they face Putin’s illegal war”:
“Senedd:
1. Believes that the Holodomor was a predetermined crime committed and led by Stalin and the Soviet Government against the people of Ukraine.
2. Regards the Holodomor as an act of genocide.
3. Notes the crucial role of Welsh journalist Gareth Jones in bringing the cruelty of the Holodomor to the attention of the world.
4. Continues to stand with the people of Ukraine as they face Putin’s illegal war.”
The recognition of the Holodomor as a genocide by the Welsh parliament adds to the growing number of countries that have officially acknowledged the tragedy for what it was. To date, 30 countries worldwide have recognized the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people. Earlier this year, the Italian Senate passed a similar resolution in July.
The Holodomor was a man-made genocidal famine in Soviet Ukraine from 1932 to 1933 that resulted in the deaths of at least four million Ukrainians, with up to 28,000 people dying per day at the height of the tragedy, not including additional deaths from deportations and the targeting of cultural, religious, and political leaders.
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- Slovenia recognizes Ukraine’s Holodomor famine as genocide
- French Parliament recognizes Holodomor as genocide against Ukrainians
- European Parliament recognizes Holodomor as genocide against Ukrainians