Statement of Solidarity with Vladyslav Starodubtsev
The RUTA Association stands in solidarity with our member Vladyslav Starodubtsev, a historian, social-democrat, and veteran.
On Sunday, October 18, a group of around 20 men attacked Vladyslav in an attempt to disrupt his lecture, “Left-Wing Lviv: A Brief History of a Long-Standing Tradition.” This was not only an assault on one person but an attack on academic freedom, open public discussion, and the democratic values that Ukraine’s defenders, Vladyslav among them, are fighting for.
We call on the Lviv police and city authorities to:
- Conduct a prompt, thorough, and transparent investigation into the attack.
- Identify and prosecute those responsible.
- Prevent further threats, verbal or physical, against our colleague.
- Guarantee the safety of scholars, lecturers, and political activists in Lviv, so that public events can take place without fear of violence or intimidation.
We would like to draw further attention that Lviv is not only an important academic hub, it is one of the main centres of international research today. Many of our colleagues come to work and present in the city, and it is crucial that we sustain the environment of democratic pluralism in the city and wider region.
Vladyslav is a valued member of our community. His educational work and public outreach has been important in drawing international interest in and support for Ukrainian studies during the brutal war that Russia has launched on the country. He is further determined to continue his public lectures. We support his right to do so and encourage the local government and community to ensure that he and all scholars, including left-leaning intellectuals, are able and safe to do so.