In the Palace of Europe during the high-level multilateral dialogue “Good Democratic Governance in Ukraine: achievements, challenges and the way forward in post-war period”, the participants had the opportunity to visit the photo exhibition “The Price of Ukraine’s Independence”.

The exhibition was opened by the head of the parliamentary-government delegation of Ukraine, the first deputy chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Oleksandr Korniienko.

The organizers are the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development with the assistance of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Permanent Representation of Ukraine to the Council of Europe and the support of the Council of Europe projects “Decentralization and Reform of Public Administration in Ukraine” and “Supporting the transparency, inclusiveness and integrity of electoral practice and processes in Ukraine – Phase III”.

According to Deputy Minister of Communities and Territories Development Viacheslav Nehoda, the photos presented were taken during the war by different people in different parts of Ukraine.

“The photos presented at this exhibition are only a small part of the crimes that russia is committing in Ukraine today. In fact, each photo is a document that certifies that russia is a terrorist state. It kills peaceful people, children, ruins their homes, destroys schools, hospitals, churches... We understand that no exhibition is capable of conveying the feelings of people who at any moment may find themselves under missile attacks, bombardments, artillery fire, people who simply want to live in their country, build and develop their state, speak their language, educate their children to be worthy, free, independent people. These photos document and show the price the Ukrainian people pay for their independence and adherence to European principles. The photo exhibition reminds us that the war is still going on – in the 21st century, in Europe,” Viacheslav Nehoda commented.

We would like to remind you that on 8–9 November in Strasbourg, the high-level multilateral dialogue “Good Democratic Governance in Ukraine: achievements, challenges and the way forward in post-war period” with the participation of the Ukrainian parliamentary-government delegation, which was headed by the first deputy chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko.

The dialogue, initiated at the request of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, was organized by the Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity in cooperation with the Venice Commission, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The event was arranged within the framework of the joint initiative “Good Democratic Governance in Ukraine: the way forward in post-war period”, established earlier this year.