S UBSTITUTE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Ukraine has been a sovereign and independent nation-state since August of 1991, when the Ukrainian parliament declared independence from the former Soviet Union, a decision ratified in a national plebiscite in December of that year; and
WHEREAS, in November of 2013 thousands of people gathered in Kyiv, Ukrainejs capital and its largest city, to protest the actions and policies of their elected officials; and
WHEREAS, as demonstrations grew larger and more vocal, the government's response became increasingly harsh: acts of violence, ranging from abduction to beatings to use qf rooftop snipers, were perpetrated against unarmed demonstrators; and
WHEREAS, on February 22, 2014, the Ukrainian parliament voted to impeach then president Viktor F. Yanukovych and to set presidential elections for May 25 of this year. The next day the parliament selected an interim president, Olexander Turchynov, who ordered immediate formation of a national unity government in order to reduce tensions and to restore peac£ and order; and
WHEREAS, Within a week of the formation of the national unity government, Russian special operations troops moved with breathtaking speed to seize control of strategic locations across Crimea, where Russia has a major military base; and
WHEREAS, local authorities in Crimea, acting in violation of well-established principles of international law, moved to declare independence from Ukraine and to schedule a referendum on joining Russia; and
WHEREAS, Amid protests of voter fraud, a referendum was held in Crimea on Synday, March 16, 2014. Following the referendum, Mr. Putin quickly pressed ahead with the formalities of asserting Russian control over the Crimean peninsula; and
WHEREAS, Undeterred by the imposition of international sanctions or by the thrc at of diplomatic isolation from the West, on March 18,2014, Mr. Putin signed a treaty of accession with the region's new leaders to make Crimea and the City of Sevastopol regions of the Russ an Federation; and
!
WHEREAS, the Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory and threats against the forces and people of Ukraine are blatant violations of international law and the standards of conduct of civilized nations; and
WHEREAS, Chicago is a city of immigrants and home to people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, Chicago is proud to be the home of thousands of people of Ukrainian birth and descent, who enrich our city by their dedication to democratic ideals, and by the preservation and presentation of their cultural heritage in many forms; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the Cljty of Chicago, assembled this 2nd day of April, 2014, do hereby strongly denounce the aggressive, illegal actions that Mr. Putin has taken in Crimea; and
1
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we wholeheartedly support the actions of President Obama and our international partners on this issue, including the suspension of Russia from the
people;
G8, the imposition of sanctions, and our ongoing efforts to aid and support the Ukrainian arid
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Chicago stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian community in Chicago and all over the world, and we honor our Ukrainian community by pledging to work closely with them and commit to strengthening our longstanding relationship with our sister city of Kyiv; and !
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that suitable copies of Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago, as a sign of oj " legitimate democratic aspirations of the Ukrainian pe
^solution be presented to the nd solidarity with the imate government.
Rahm Emanuel, Mayor
Ariel RetSoyras Alderman, 30th Ward
Proco Joe Moreno Alderman, 1slWard
aco Joe Moreno O
i
2