In Chicago, at the American Ukrainian Youth Association, a multinational conference forum titled “The End of Empire” was held. The event was organized by the Alla Horska Branch of the Women’s Association for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine, in partnership with the Chicago branch of the Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM Chicago Oseredok), the Organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine (ODFFU Chicago), and the American Friends of the Anti-Imperial Bloc of Nations (AF-ABN). The forum brought together representatives of ethnic organizations and activists from the United States and Ukraine, as well as delegations of peoples who have suffered repression within the Russian Federation.
This was reported by Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Illinois Division.
Conference participants—including delegates from Chechnya, Kabardino-Balkaria / the Caucasian peoples (Circassia), Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Bashkortostan—provided powerful testimony about Russia’s wars and human rights violations. According to the organizers, all speakers are currently listed on Russia’s so-called “terrorist list.”
Among the speakers were ABN President Oleh Medunytsia; Deputy Foreign Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Aset Sabb; representative of the Buryat National Movement, Marina Khankhalayeva; leader of the Congress of the Oirat-Kalmyk People, Baatar Bormangnaev; Chairman of the International Circassian Council, Iyad Yagar; representative of the Bashkir National Movement abroad, Aigul Lyon; coordinators of the American Friends of ABN Association, Professor Volodymyr Zarytskyi and Yurii Kmyotyk; Dr. Maria Dmytriv-Kapeniak; and Andrii Dobrianskyi of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. The event was moderated by Oleksandra Horodisky-Hashler.
“Now is precisely the time to prepare for the collapse of the Kremlin’s terrorist state and the revival of dozens of enslaved nations imprisoned within the Russian Federation. They seek freedom and self-determination, while Russia continues to suffer defeats at the hands of Ukrainian defenders. Experts will share their vision of the future of these national minorities as the imperialist Russian regime declines and transforms into a weakened post-colonial state,” noted conference chair Mary Krutiak.
Particularly emotional was the testimony of Marina Khankhalayeva, a representative of the Buryat National Movement. She spoke about the catastrophic consequences of Russian aggression for the Chechen people: “About 42,000 Chechen children were killed during Putin’s war in Chechnya. And if Putin had been stopped in Chechnya, there would be no war in Ukraine today!” She also emphasized that many people from these nations are currently fighting against Russia in Ukraine side by side with Ukrainians.
In turn, Maria Klimchak, Director of the Kyiv Mohyla Foundation of America, noted that the forum became an important platform for discussing the future of human rights and the right to self-determination of enslaved peoples following a possible disintegration of Russia.
The Anti-Imperial Bloc of Nations (ABN) is an international coalition of national liberation movements created as a platform for solidarity, education, and political action in support of 41 nations that remain under Moscow’s control and influence. The coalition also develops strategies regarding a potential breakup of the Russian Federation and the future of human rights and self-determination for enslaved peoples.
In particular, the conference reflected the mission of AF-ABN, which promotes the protection of American national interests by:
- Weakening the primary adversary: Russia remains one of the most aggressive challenges to U.S. strategic interests.
- Preventing future wars: Supporting resistance movements abroad reduces the likelihood of large-scale conflicts that could require American intervention.
- Creating strong allies: Free, sovereign nations born of resistance are likely to become close strategic partners of the United States.
- Upholding democratic norms: Defending global freedom safeguards the ideological and moral foundation of American democracy.
The vision articulated by the organizers included: “Free, sovereign, and independent nations rooted in faith, family, and freedom,” “A doctrine of peace through strength that rejects appeasement and coercion,” and “A stronger, freer world that defends and advances American values.”
As part of the conference, an exhibition by the Anti-Imperial Bloc of Nations titled “The Real Prisoners of Putin: Political Prisoners of Enslaved Peoples” was also presented, along with a screening of a documentary film about ABN’s human rights project.
Photo: Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Illinois Division.
Author: Danylo Pievchev