Tolekan Ismailova — human rights defender, representing the Public Association Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan (One World), the international solidarity and partnership networks WLP, FIDH, CSP, Forum Asia, and GNDR, and Founder of the One World Kyrgyzstan International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival.

Your Excellency, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Valerii Tymofiiovych Zhovtenko,

Dear Mrs. Zoya Borysivna Oliinyk,

Dear Mr. Volodymyr Volodymyrovych Narozia, Chairman of the Ukrainian Society “Berehynia”,

Distinguished colleagues, dear friends, and partners,

Today, I stand before you with sincere gratitude and deep emotions. It is a tremendous honour to receive one of Ukraine’s highest state decorations—the Order of Princess Olga, III Class—on the occasion of the Constitution Day of Ukraine. This distinction was conferred upon me by the Decree of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, dated 23 August 2025.

I was especially impressed that, on 25 August 2025, you extended your congratulations not only to me but also to my colleagues and partners upon this distinguished honour.

Allow me to emphasise that, over the past four years of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has demonstrated the extraordinary resilience of its statehood and emerged as one of the defining forces shaping today’s global transformations. Even under the conditions of war, the country has demonstrated remarkable resilience, implemented far-reaching digital reforms, and pioneered innovative approaches to asymmetric warfare.

Ukraine’s achievements that have inspired the world include:

Military innovation and asymmetric defence. Ukraine has become a global leader in the use of unmanned technologies, including naval drones and long-range unmanned aerial systems. These innovations have enabled Ukraine to counter a significantly stronger adversary and reshape the strategic balance on the battlefield.

Digital transformation of public services. Ukraine’s public institutions have not only endured the hardships of war but have continued to evolve. The Diia digital platform has become an internationally recognised model of e-governance, providing citizens with seamless access to public services, official documents, and government services in a fully digital environment.

The resilience of Ukrainian society. The Ukrainian people have demonstrated an extraordinary level of unity and resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges. Despite the destruction of critical energy infrastructure and relentless attacks, Ukraine has preserved the functioning of its economy, banking system, state institutions, and essential public services.

A geopolitical transformation. Ukraine has evolved from being an object of international politics into a decisive and influential actor, reshaping the European security architecture and accelerating the strengthening and expansion of democratic alliances.

Over the past four years of full-scale war, Ukraine has become a global symbol of courage, resilience, and determination. At the same time, the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to defending the fundamental values enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In early February, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) published the findings of a nationwide survey conducted at the end of January, when, following massive Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, large parts of the country—particularly Kyiv—were facing severe shortages of electricity, heating, and water amid temperatures falling to –25°C. Ukrainians came to describe this period as the "Cold Holodomor."

According to the survey, 88 percent of respondents believe that Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy system are intended to force the country into capitulation. At the same time, 65 percent stated that they were prepared to endure and resist for as long as necessary. By comparison, 62 percent expressed the same determination in surveys conducted in September and December 2025.

The words of Yuliia, a resident of Kyiv, published by Deutsche Welle, are particularly moving:

"To be honest, this January did not make me more determined or angrier—there was simply nowhere left to go. My determination has been at its highest level since 2022. This is just another stage in an incredibly difficult struggle that we will ultimately win. What helps me remain resilient most of all is knowing that there is no alternative, because every other option would be far worse."

Yuliia's husband has been serving on the front line since 2024, while the family continues to raise their daughter. Her words reflect the inner strength of millions of Ukrainians who continue to live, work, defend their country, and preserve hope for the future.

Today, the international community faces one of the defining questions of our time:

How can we stop Russia's aggression and bring this devastating war to an end?

Erika Guevara-Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns at Amnesty International, expressed this reality with remarkable clarity:

“Lawlessness must be challenged, not normalised. Impunity must be confronted, not incorporated into peace proposals.

The people of Ukraine continue to endure indiscriminate attacks every day. Critical infrastructure essential for the survival of millions is being relentlessly destroyed. Russian forces continue to torture prisoners of war, terrorise and deport civilians in occupied territories, force teachers into compulsory labour, subject children to indoctrination, and deny them the right to their own identity. At the same time, Moscow continues to demand control over even more Ukrainian territory under the guise of a so-called ‘peace process’.”

A special place in Ukraine's resistance belongs to Ukrainian women.

Today, women are defending their country on the front lines, sustaining communities on the home front, leading humanitarian initiatives, documenting war crimes, supporting survivors, and strengthening the resilience of their communities every single day. In the context of a prolonged war, this work demands extraordinary courage and self-sacrifice while exposing women to increasing risks, shrinking independent funding, and severe humanitarian consequences.

Throughout this tragic chapter of history, women have become one of the strongest pillars of Ukrainian society.

The key dimensions of women's contribution to Ukraine's resistance and the protection of human rights include:

Defending the country on the front lines. Thousands of Ukrainian women serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Women service members and veterans—including many human rights defenders—are protecting not only Ukraine's sovereignty but also the fundamental values of human dignity and human rights, while advocating for equal legal and social protections.

Humanitarian leadership and civil society. Despite significant reductions in international funding in 2026, women's organisations remain at the heart of humanitarian response efforts. They coordinate logistics, support survivors, assist in the rehabilitation of the wounded, and provide essential assistance to military families, internally displaced persons, and the most vulnerable members of society.

Safeguarding the country's essential services. Every day, women work under the combined pressures of war, destroyed energy infrastructure, and financial hardship. Their dedication across healthcare, education, social protection, and critical infrastructure has become indispensable to preserving the resilience and functioning of Ukrainian communities.

Advancing justice and accountability. Ukrainian women human rights defenders play a crucial role in documenting human rights violations and war crimes, helping to build the evidentiary foundation for future international justice and accountability.

The promotion of decent work and the strengthening of independent trade unions remain equally essential to protecting democratic values and fundamental human rights.

It is therefore particularly significant to recall the position of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

In light of the developments in Ukraine outlined in document GB.357/INS/4, the resolution adopted by the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization concerning the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine within the framework of the ILO's mandate, and the conclusions reached during its 357th Session in June 2026, the Governing Body reaffirmed its principled position.

The Governing Body took note of the information presented, once again expressed its profound concern over the continuing aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, carried out with the support of the Government of Belarus, and condemned its devastating consequences for workers, employers, the democratically elected Government of Ukraine, and the world of work as a whole.

It further reiterated its urgent call on the Russian Federation to immediately and unconditionally cease its aggression and withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine.

The position of the International Labour Organization once again demonstrates that the protection of human rights, international humanitarian law, labour rights, and human dignity remains a shared responsibility of the international community.

According to the Ukrainian sociologist Anton Hrushetskyi, one of the key factors underpinning the resilience of Ukrainian society after four years of full-scale war is the awareness that Ukraine is not facing this tragedy alone. It continues to receive the support of its European partners, as well as of states, peoples, and civil societies that uphold freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights as fundamental values.

As Anton Hrushetskyi observes:

“Today's suffering is perceived as an investment in the future. Our latest research shows that more than 60 percent of Ukrainians remain optimistic and believe that, within the next ten years, Ukraine will become a prosperous member of the European Union. Today, our foremost task is to endure. After that, the country will be able to move confidently towards a new socio-economic reality and sustainable development.”

These words inspire hope not only for the people of Ukraine, but also for all of us who believe in the power of international solidarity, the rule of law, and the inherent dignity of every human being.

Today, as I receive the Order of Princess Olga, III Class, I accept this distinguished state decoration not only as a deeply personal honour, but also as recognition of the many years of collective work carried out by human rights defenders, representatives of civil society, our colleagues, friends, and international partners who have stood with Ukraine and consistently defended human rights, freedom, human dignity, and democratic values.

On behalf of the Public Association Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the people of Ukraine for their courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the ideals of freedom.

We deeply value our longstanding cooperation with Ukrainian human rights defenders, civil society activists, and our international partners. We are united by the conviction that only respect for international law, the protection of human dignity, solidarity, and accountability for crimes committed can lay the foundation for a just and lasting peace.

In closing, I would like to express my support for the analytical article by Roman Nekoliuk, entitled “Restoring the Role of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Human Rights and Security after Russia's Invasion,” published in the Human Rights Brief (HRB) of the Washington College of Law.

The article examines the systemic erosion of multilateral cooperation grounded in human rights, driven by shifting geopolitical dynamics, the weakening leadership of traditional human rights champions, the rise of authoritarian coalitions, and the growing dominance of transactional, security-driven diplomacy.

The author convincingly argues that restoring the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) as a human rights-centred institution founded on a comprehensive concept of security is essential to rebuilding regional stability and restoring confidence in international human rights commitments.

The war against Ukraine is examined within the broader context of democratic backsliding, institutional paralysis, and the rise of authoritarianism. The article demonstrates how domestic repression and interstate aggression reinforce one another, creating profound challenges for the international rules-based order.

The author warns that, without coordinated and determined international action, the global community risks normalising exceptional and militarised responses at the expense of universal human rights—placing the greatest burden on the most vulnerable communities and smaller states.

Its central conclusion is that restoring the human rights agenda within the OSCE is not a secondary component of peacebuilding, but rather one of the essential prerequisites for establishing a just, resilient, and sustainable European security order in the post-war era.

I am convinced that the article's findings and recommendations can serve as a catalyst for meaningful, inclusive, and positive change—not only across the OSCE region, but throughout the wider international community.

As the author rightly concludes:

“Above all, we face both a practical and a moral imperative: to ensure that law, institutions, and established procedures once again serve to constrain the use of force and uphold justice, rather than becoming rhetorical shields for power. If political leaders, international institutions, and civil society respond with determination and unity, the multilateral project can be restored and made more resilient. If they fail to do so, the erosion described here will become the new normal, while its consequences will be borne by those least able to protect themselves.

Revitalising this system will require political courage to uphold accountability, renewed resources for monitoring and rapid response, and institutional reforms that recognise civil society as a genuine partner in both analysis and decision-making. If these steps are taken, the OSCE can once again become an effective instrument for lasting security—one that prevents aggression, protects human rights, and rebuilds cooperation across Europe. If not, the Organisation's normative foundations will continue to erode, together with the prospects for a peace firmly grounded in human rights.”

May this message serve as a guiding principle for everyone who believes in the strength of international law, solidarity, and our shared responsibility to safeguard peace, security, and human rights.

May Ukraine live in peace, freedom, and security. May its people continue to uphold unity, dignity, and hope. May justice, international law, and human solidarity prevail.

Together, we are stronger.

We stand with Ukraine.

Thank you for this extraordinary honour.

Glory to Ukraine!