On June 20 in Washington, the first ladies of Ukraine and the USA, Olena Zelenska and Jill Biden, met. On July 19, Zelenska became the face of all Ukrainian people at the Human Rights Award ceremony in the Memorial to the victims of communism in Washington. The award for the Ukrainian people was presented to the first lady, and she will bring her to Kyiv.
"This year, for the first time, it marked not a specific person but all the people of Ukraine for "courageous struggle for freedom against the aggressive war of Russia." Although the memorial is dedicated to the crimes of communism, it is worth remembering that this is only one of the persons totalitarianism", Olena Zelenska.
In her speech, the first lady raised the issue of Russia’s use of Stalinist methods against Ukrainians: repression and genocide.
"How Ukrainians pass through Russian filtration camps, how those who refuse to cooperate with the occupiers are tortured. As our people are forcibly deported to Russia. At the cost of heroic efforts, we are now fighting not only for our freedom," Olena Zelenska.
On behalf of all Ukrainian people, the First Lady said that today Ukraine is fighting for freedom from Stalin’s repressions and the victory of democratic values.
"This is exactly what today’s award says, which I’m taking to Ukraine," the first lady summed up.
The dissident Human Rights Award has been awarded since 2015 to dissidents of peoples under the yoke of totalitarianism and injustice.
