Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs on Holodomor Memorial Day

November 24, 2018 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on Holodomor Memorial Day:

“Today, we join Ukrainians in Canada and around the world in remembering the murder and suffering inflicted on millions of Ukrainians by the totalitarian Soviet regime during the Holodomor.

“In 1932 and 1933, millions of people were killed by starvation and execution while countless others were caught up in mass arrests and deportations. This was a deliberate genocide, designed to break the will of the Ukrainian nation. What’s worse, it was denied by its perpetrators in Moscow, Russia.

“This attempt to destroy the Ukrainian spirit failed. Today and all days, we remember this horrific chapter in human history and honour the memory of the victims.

“Canada will always stand with Ukraine against attempts to suppress its right to self-determination, including by Russia, and defend the people of Ukraine, its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Vichnaya Pamiat.”