ATLANTA — The Carter Center condemns Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to send troops into the sovereign nation of Ukraine, a clear violation of international law and the human rights of the Ukrainian people. We call on Russia to immediately withdraw its forces and engage with Ukraine’s leaders and the international community to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Putin’s recognition of two areas of Ukraine as independent states undermines fundamental democratic principles and exacerbates a humanitarian crisis that began with its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Conflict caused by Russian-backed separatists has already led to some 14,000 deaths and forced an estimated 1.6 million Ukrainians from their homes. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who in recent years have made great strides in strengthening their democracy and institutions, and who have the right to live free from violence and to chart their own future.
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Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org
Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.
A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
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