KKE: Protests for the anti-communist, anti-democratic persecutions in Ukraine and Russia

Press release of the IRS of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE):

On 11 March 2025, the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) held a picket outside the Embassy of Ukraine in Athens, while a delegation of the KKE and KNE affixed a letter of protest to its door.

With this protest, the KKE and KNE condemned the prolonged political persecution, arrest and torture of Mikhail and Alexander Kononovich, members of the Ukrainian Communist Youth League (Komsomol).

Solidarity with Kononovich Brothers! Protest of the KKE and KNE at the Ukrainian Embassy in Athens

On 6 July 2023, a delegation of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), headed by MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, and members of KNE protested at the Ukrainian embassy in Athens and posted on its door a statement of protest regarding the constant death threats against the two young communists, Aleksander and Mikhail Kononovich.

The KKE’s statement of protest reads as follows:

Zelensky regime is planning our assassination: Urgent Appeal from Kononovich Brothers

In an urgent appeal to the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFTY), Communist Youths and anti-fascist organizations, Ukrainian communists Mikhail and Aleksander Kononovich, denounce the Zelensky regime for planning their assassination. 

More specifically, the two young communists who were arrested in March 2022 and imprisoned in Ukraine following a "kangaroo-court" trial, point out that according to Kiev government's plans, "there will be two scenarios or prison or our murder". 

Ukraine: Kononovich brothers' released from prison, placed under house arrest

The First Secretary of the Leninist Communist Youth Union of Ukraine Mikhail Kononovich and his brother Aleksander, also a Komsomol member and anti-fascist activist, who had been arrested, tortured and imprisoned in Kiev, Ukraine, in March 2022, have been released from pre-trial detention and are currently under house arrest by court decision, the Belarusian news portal «sb.by» reported.

Lyudmila Gladkaya, journalist of «sb.by» portal suspects that the prosecution and the court simply cannot present any verifiable violations of the law and therefore have to backtrack on certain aspects. For example, in several court sessions, announced prosecution witnesses simply did not show up. 

Kononovich brothers courtroom appeal: “Our case is completely fabricated from start to finish"

The trial of Mikhail and Aleksander Kononovich began in the Solomensky District Court of Kyiv on July 1st, without the physical presence of the defenders but via teleconference.

Under the pretext of false and groundless accusations, the two brothers, members of the Leninist Communist Youth Union of Ukraine  were arrested on March 7th, 2022 and tortured in a Kiev detention center.

Since then, numerous Communist Parties and Youth organizations from all over the world, including the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) have demanded their immediate release. The EU Parliament Group of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has already submitted two written questions (first and second) to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs concerning the case of Kononovich brothers.

KKE: Question to EU's Josep Borrell about the detained young communists in Ukraine

For more than 100 days, the First Secretary of the Leninist Communist Youth Union of Ukraine Mikhail Kononovich and his brother Aleksander, remain detained by the Ukrainian authorities. With a new question submitted to the EU High Commissioner Josep Borrell, the European Parliament Group of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) denounces the unjust and arbitrary persecution and detention of the two young communists. 

Ukraine: 100 days since the kidnapping of Mikhail and Aleksander Kononovich

One hundred days have been passed since the kidnapping and detention of Communist Youth members, Mikhail and Aleksander Kononovich, by the reactionary Ukrainian regime. 

Under the pretext of false and groundless accusations, the two brothers were arrested on March 7th and tortured in a Kiev detention center. 

Since then, numerous Communist Parties and Youth organizations from all over the world, including the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) have demanded their immediate release.  

Sign the Petition: Freedom to Kononovich Brothers!

All comrades/friends/readers are kindly requested to sign and share the Petition demanding the immediate release of Mikhail and Aleksander Kononovich, members of the Leninist Communist Youth of Ukraine who have been arrested by the Ukrainian authorities on March 7th, 2022. 

Also, send emails and letters to your local Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate (check a list below) to protest the unacceptable and unjust detention of Kononovich brothers. 

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

The full text of the Petition:

Ukraine: Communist Youth Union members beaten badly, remain detained in Kiev

Mikhail and Aleksander Kononovich, both members of the Leninist Communist Youth Union of Ukraine are still alive, according to updated information given by the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY).

More specifically, a recent post by the WFDY reads: 

"Finally, after 6 days without any news, we have received an update on the situation of comrades Kononovich. 

-They are arrested in a pre-trial detention centre in Kiev. 

KKE in EU Parliament: Urgent question about the arrest of Kononovich brothers in Ukraine

With a question submitted to the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, the European Parliament Group of the  Communist Party of Greece (KKE) denounces the arrest of the two members of the Leninist Communist Youth Union of Ukraine, Mikhail and Aleksander Kononovich (read here) and demands from the EU Commission to express its position on the issue of anti-communist persecutions in the country. 

More specifically the urgent question submitted by the KKE MEP Kostas Papadakis reads:

Alert: Ukrainian authorities arrested Communist Youth leader and his brother

In an urgent statement posted in social media accounts the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) points out:

"The First Secretary of our Ukrainian member organisation, the Leninist Communist Youth Union of Ukraine, Mikhail Kononovich, and his brother, Aleksander Kononovich, have been arrested by the Ukrainian neo-fascist regime during the last hours. 

 

They have been accused of being Russian and Belarusian spies. They will be possibly murdered in the following hours.