Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk has been imprisoned for a year now for criticizing the proxy-war in Ukraine. He must be released immediately!

On April 25, 2024 the Ukrainian Secret Service arrested Bogdan under bogus claims that he was serving the interests of Russia. Bogdan was charged with “treason under martial law” and faces a sentence of up to 15 years to life. He is a member of Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists, an organization affiliated with the World Socialist Website.

In the face of Bogdan’s arrest and false accusations made by the Ukrainian government against him, the WSWS has launched an international campaign in defense of their comrade. While we at Left Voice have important political differences with WSWS, we unequivocally oppose the Ukrainian regime’s attacks on opponents of the proxy-war which offers nothing for the Ukrainian working class.

Since the start of the war, both the Ukrainian regime and Putin’s regime have used it as an opportunity to further silence opponents, especially those who call for unity of Ukrainian workers and Russian workers. The Ukrainian government has similarly gone after Ukrainian pacifist Yurii Sheliazhenko while in Russia, Boris Kagarlitsky has been slapped with trumped up charges of “justifying terrorism.” These are just a few figures who have had organizations and campaigns demanding their freedom. There are certainly more anti-war activists, socialists, workers, and youth in Ukraine and Russia who are facing repression. Leftists who claim the mantle of internationalism must speak out against the reactionary nationalism that the Russian and Ukrainian regimes are using to crack down on dissent, and oppose this war which has no progressive camp.

With growing trends towards great power conflict, war, and all the worst crimes of imperialism, leftists must stand in solidarity in defense of the right to advocate for anti-imperialist ideas, class solidarity across borders, and opposition to all wars in which the capitalists use our class as cannon fodder for their profits. For this reason we demand the immediate release of Bogdan Syrotiuk and an end to the repression of all left-wing movements in Ukraine and Russia.