On July 26, leaders of civil society organizations dealing with the environment, human rights and democratic social development, experts and citizens of Ukraine approached high-ranking persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe with a letter demanding to revoke Kharkov's Europe Prize 2010.

According to the signatories, the city, whose authorities caused the conflict around illegal tree cutting in Gorkiy Park, cannot own a prize, which is being awarded for implementation of European values.

In particular, the letter notes that the city doesn't meet at least 2 requirements of the competition. Clause 7 refers to dissemination of European ideas in education facilities of the city.  Teachers and lecturers of Kharkiv, who bent to the pressure of the city authorities and supported their illegal actions are far away from European values and demonstrate a poor example of attitudes to democratic ideals (such as the right to self-determination, the freedom of thought, the freedom of speech, the right for safe and healthy environment). Clause 8 refers to the criterion associated with the duty of local authorities to assist victims of adverse environmental impacts and to support citizens in solidarity actions. But the situation in Kharkiv demonstrates that the city authorities fail to meet there requirements, moreover their actions clearly contradict to it - as the city authorities endanger life and health of Kharkiv residents by destruction of trees that are necessary for a large industrial city.

See the original letter In English here.

Annex: article in popular Ukrainian Weekly “Mirrow of the Week”, № 26 (806) 10 — 16 July 2010 by Yevhen Zaharov “AWARDING THE GUILTY AND PANISHING THE INNOCENT” in English and in Ukrainian.

The Letter in Ukrainian is HERE.