The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) Australia is publishing statements from current and former academics and teachers in Australia demanding the immediate release of comrade Bogdan Syrotiuk. He has been arrested and detained by the Security Services of Ukraine (SBU) and the fascistic Zelensky regime on the completely fraudulent claim that he is a Russian agent.
The statements below are part of the global campaign initiated by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS).
Bogdan is the leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL) in Ukraine, which is aligned with the ICFI. As explained by David North, the chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the WSWS, the real reason for his arrest is that Bogdan called for the unity of the Russian, Ukrainian and international working class on a socialist program against imperialist barbarism, including the US/NATO war against Russia.
We urge all readers to sign the ICFI’s online petition here and send in statements demanding his immediate release.
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Professor Gill H. Boehringer is a retired professor and former head of the law school at Macquarie University in Sydney.
Bogdan Syrotiuk was arrested in late April 2024, by the state security service of the Zelensky regime, the SBU.
He is charged with high treason. It is alleged that Bogdan has “engaged in the preparation of publications commissioned by representatives of a Russian propaganda and information agency, the World Socialist Web Site.”
Bogdan is the victim of trumped-up charges, intended to strike fear into others who are seen to be enemies of the state because of their opposition to the Ukraine government.
But Bogdan has also expressed his opposition to Putin’s “special operation.”
Further, the Zelensky government is attempting to intimidate the media by claiming that the World Socialist Web Site is a creature of the Russian government.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The WSWS has consistently opposed the war, criticising Russia and the West for a war that has no benefit and great dangers for the working people of Ukraine and Russia.
Kristian, a lecturer from Australia.
Free Bogdan Syrotiuk! I do not consider myself to be a Marxist but it is clear that the attack on Bogdan is an attack on all of us. He has committed no crime other than to exercise his critical judgement from a Marxist perspective and courageously followed his political convictions to criticise both the Zelensky and Putin regimes and call for an end to the war in Ukraine.
David, a retired academic in Brisbane, and SEP Electoral Member.
The life of Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk, 25, is at risk because of his opposition to the war with Russia and the vicious Zelensky dictatorship. He and the World Socialist Web Site have attacked Putin and his invasion of Ukraine from day one, but they have been framed with the false charge of support for Russia: treason, which in Ukraine means slow death in prison. The working class in Australia and around the world is rising to his defence. Join us!
Mandy, a Melbourne primary school teacher
With all the violence and war happening in the world right now, it is completely abhorrent that someone can stand up for the unification of Ukrainian and Russian workers, the people most affected by the proxy war in Ukraine, and then be put in jail. We need to take a stand and call out the Ukrainian government in defence of Bogdan Syrotiuk.
The appalling frame up by the SBU against Bogdan deserves highlighting. What a bogus yet revealing turn of events. This occurring in a backdrop of anti-democratic dictatorship, with voices from the left being silenced.
Members of the Committee for Public Education rightly highlighted these events at the recent public meeting, and I was compelled to be part of the unanimous vote for the extremely important resolution to be passed. I completely agree with the important links made to the governments in US, UK, and Australia supporting this war along with the genocide in Gaza. Links can also be made to the plight of Julian Assange, another anti-war hero subjected to abuse for standing up against war criminals.
Martin Mantell, retired teacher Melbourne, Australia.
I wish to add my support to the campaign by the International Committee to demand the immediate release of Socialist Internationalist Bogdan Syrotiuk! The Zelensky regime which enjoys no popular support amongst the Ukrainian workers and peasants, a fact attested to by its cancellation of the 2024 national elections, has imprisoned Bogdan on the false charge of treason, in that, he is supporting the Putin regime in its reactionary invasion of Ukrainian.
This charge is false and Bogdan’s writings and actions as a member of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists completely refute this slanderous accusation. Bogdan is a selfless and brave fighter for the unity of the Ukrainian, Russian and international working class.
The article by David North on WSWS on 18/5/24 entitled “Stop the political frame-up of Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk!” exposes the utter falseness of this charge against Bogdan. The Ukrainian secret police—the SBU—schooled in the brutality and baseness of their Stalinist forbears resort to completely baseless amalgams of lies and filthy slanders against, not only Bogdan, but also the ICFI and WSWS!
Their lies and slanders will fool no one. With the persecution of Bogdan, and the attack on the ICFI, the Zelensky regime’s democratic façade is in tatters, and it stands exposed as a willing accomplice in the US-NATO war plans against Russia and China.
Free Bogdan Syrotiuk!