The association “Ukrainians in Linz and Upper Austria” had organized the peaceful event. “Only together can we resist Russian aggression and stop the war,” the call read. Ukrainians living in Linz asked the European states for support for their home country.
As a sign of solidarity, the Castle Museum in Linz has been lit up in the national colors of Ukraine, blue and yellow, since Saturday night. This was announced by the state of Upper Austria and the OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH. One wants to set a “sign for peace and for an end to violence”, said Governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP) on Friday.
Extremely emotional demo in Vienna
Several thousand people protested against Russia and the war in Ukraine ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 at Vienna’s Human Rights Square on Saturday afternoon. In extremely emotional speeches, Ukrainian diaspora activists said with tears in their eyes that Ukrainians would never put up with a Russian occupation of their homeland.
One activist shouted into her microphone that they would stand here every day until there was peace in Ukraine. She turned to “Putin understanders” and supporters of the Kremlin’s policies. “We cannot allow the murderers of the Putin regime to live among us,” she said.
In a speech in Russian, the diaspora representative asked Russian citizens present to call their relatives in Russia to take to the streets in their homeland. Silence is now participation, she explained. She announced to the Russian embassy and Russian companies in Austria that her quiet days were numbered.
“Slava Ukrayini”
A native of Ukraine raised massive allegations against Austrian foreign policy. The fact that Austria was the first EU country to receive the Russian President in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea showed Vladimir Putin that he was allowed to do so. “We die because you were willing to talk to him,” she explained.
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The speeches by Austrian politicians on Saturday were sharp in content but less emotional. “All of Vienna is behind Ukraine. This war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine is unimaginable and difficult to bear,” said Vienna’s Deputy Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS). The most important right is the right to peace and life, said the SPÖ’s human rights spokesman in the Austrian parliament, Harald Troch. Like practically all speakers, he closed his speech with “Slava Ukrajini” – “Glory to Ukraine”.
Gallery: Monuments all over the world shine in the colors of the national flag these days
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Source: Nachrichten
