ICO “Environment-People-Law” initiated the process of exclusion of all governmental and non-governmental environmental organizations of the Russian Federation from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Representatives of an aggressor country that destroys the environment of another state should not be members of environmental associations.
Russia attacked Ukraine and is bombing Ukrainian cities, demolishing residential areas, hospitals, kindergartens, killing hundreds of civilians.
Environment that we all hold so dear is the silent victim of the hostilities. Contamination of air and soil as a result of heavy missile bombing, devastation of huge territories including protected areas and Ramsar wetlands, pollution of rivers and lakes aggravated by nuclear and chemical contamination risks all pose a tremendous hazard for the environment of Ukraine and Europe as the environment knows no borders.
Widespread attacks on civilian infrastructure, including targeting of water infrastructure without a definite military advantage, are clear violations of international law. Moreover, fighting near hydroelectric dams risks catastrophe.
All mentioned above is the evidence of the fact that Russia is an audacious violator of international humanitarian law and environmental law creating the biggest over the century humanitarian and environmental crisis.
Therefore, International charitable organization “Environment-People-Law” (EPL) as an IUCN member demands that IUCN terminates membership of Russian Federation, organizations and institutions in IUCN.
We also urge IUCN to suspend all the projects, financial and other kind of support, assistance and cooperation with or to Russian Federation, Russian organizations and institutions.
The official letter can be found at here
EPL team.
