In Solidarity with Ukraine: Slovak and Hungarian writers and journalists visited Ukraine

The visit of Slovak and Hungarian authors took place within the program In Solidarity with Ukraine supported by the Prague Civil Society Centre. Information partner: Espreso TV Channel.

The delegation included Slovak writer Marek Vadas, journalist Jan Markos, political scientist Grigorij Mesežnikov, writer Michal Hvorecky, and journalist Miro Pastorek. From the Hungarian part, writer Viktor Horváth and research fellow at the Centre for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Democracy (CEID) Dorka Takácsy came to visit Ukraine.

Throughout the week, the delegates met Ukrainian human rights activists, journalists, cultural managers and visited the key spots of Ukrainian culture to grasp the context of Ukraine in wartime better.

On day one, the delegates visited the main sightseeing attractions of Kyiv – St. Sophia’s Cathedral, St. Michael’s Cathedral, and Maidan Nezalezhnosti. By the evening, they met representatives of human rights organizations such as ZMINA, Truth Hounds and Lemkin Society, and had a talk with Oleksandra Romantsova, executive director of the Center for Civil Liberties.

"The beauty of Kyiv, the museums, buildings, monuments, old churches, history, contemporary art, the friendliness of people are impressive, that people can live their civilized life when they are constantly under attack. On the other hand: the sight of suffering, the cruelty of the invaders and the stupid destruction also make a deep impression: shocking," – says Viktor Horváth, writer, translator of ancient and medieval verses, guest teacher at universities.

Next day, Slovak and Hungarian authors went to towns of Bucha, Irpin, and Borodyanka in the Kyiv region to eyewitness the consequences of Russian aggression. After returning to Kyiv, the delegates had a meeting with representatives of the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

My strongest impression during the trip was the persistence of Ukrainians in how they do not want to allow Russian aggressor to spoil their lives – how they restore destroyed and damaged buildings, how they organize cultural events, publish new books, how they study, work, raise children," Slovak political scientist Grigorij Mesežnikov shared his thoughts.

Later, the guests visited Mystetskyi Arsenal and met its director Olesya Ostrovska-Lyuta. Into the bargain, the team of the Maidan Museum organized a tour of the exhibition project Protest / Architecture / Barricades and Tents: The World and Ukraine for the delegates to attend and learn about the protest history in Ukraine and worldwide.

"Being Slovak, I was astonished to learn that you already have the Maidan Museum. It is a huge difference in comparison with Slovak reality, where we still only dream of (if even we do museum dedicated to November 89 (the collapse of communist regime)," said journalist of Postoj.sk Miro Pastorek.

Prior to the end of the visit, the delegates participated in the public discussion Why Central Europe needs to reinvent itself, moderated by the president of PEN Ukraine Volodymyr Yermolenko.

"Ukrainian soldiers are fighting sacrificing their own lives and today it is the obligation of every decent person in the world to help Ukrainians – in everything and as much as possible. I will talk about what I experienced during my short but very comprehensive visit to Ukraine at home in Slovakia. I will talk about what I saw with my own eyes in Bucha and Irpin, Borodianka and Yahidne. I will write about it, I will call on people to help Ukraine, not to leave it to others, and to stand on the right side of history," – Grigorij Mesežnikov emphasized.

After returning home, the delegates are planning to spread the word about the situation in Ukraine via media, cultural events, and lectures. Thus, writer Viktor Horváth is going to share his impressions with the students of law at Pecs University in Hungary.

"Our trip reminded me how important it is to constantly inform and warn people in our region about the importance of Ukrainian struggle against Russian imperialism, since Europeans tend to speak about being "tired of war" and lose focus on what is going on in Ukraine," said Miro Pastorek.

"There is truly genocide going on. Ukraine is fighting for Europe. Putin ́s policy is aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity, history, culture... We have to stop this together now!" Writer and essayist Michal Hvoretsky summarized.

This is the seventeenth delegation of international journalists, cultural activists, human rights defenders, and opinion leaders hosted by PEN Ukraine in Kyiv. During their visits, the delegates learn about Ukrainian culture, get acquainted with cultural and human rights organizations and national media, and visit de-occupied localities to see firsthand the consequences of the crimes committed by the Russian army.

Photos: Anastasiia Mantach, Artem Galkin