Two demonstrators of Ukrainian origin have been on a hunger strike since Sunday, in front of the parliament in Ottawa, to demand that Canada reverse its decision to authorize the delivery to Germany of turbines from a gas pipeline linking Russia to the Europe.
“It was a bit of a betrayal on the part of Canada,” says Arsenii Pivtorak, on the phone. Despite a stomach ache earlier in the day, the 19-year-old man says he is motivated to continue his hunger strike, so that the Canadian government respects the economic sanctions imposed on Moscow. Alongside Mr. Pivtorak, Ladislao Zaichka denounces this decision which will allow Russia to supply Germany with natural gas and “to have more money to continue the war”.
Last Saturday, the Minister of Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, affirmed that the turbines of one of Gazprom’s Nord Stream 1 gas pipelines were in a factory of the German company Siemens, in Montreal. He announced in a press release that a revocable and time-limited permit would be granted to the company to return these repaired parts to Germany.
Minister Wilkinson said last Saturday that returning the turbines “will support Europe’s ability to access reliable and affordable energy as it continues its transition away from Russian oil and gas”.
For Ukraine, this authorization risks creating “a dangerous precedent” which could compromise the economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the West. On Monday, Canada’s ambassador to Ukraine was summoned to kyiv, following the “unacceptable” return of the turbines to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Regarding the hunger strike, Minister Wilkinson’s office replied that the government “will always support the right to peaceful protest”.
“The urgency to act”
Upon learning of the authorization to dismiss the turbines, Arsenii Pivtorak and Ladislao Zaichka felt “the urgency to act”, they say. “For us, it was hurtful to see the government act this way towards Ukraine, which needs Canada right now,” said Mr. Pivtorak. Especially after the wave of solidarity from Canadians towards the Ukrainians, he underlines.
Sending these pieces to Germany is a “more ethical than political issue”, adds Arsenii Pivtorak. The latter believes that “these turbines will ultimately be used to kill more Ukrainians. »
Ladislao Zaichka recounts having lost aunts and an uncle since the start of the Russian invasion, which began on February 24. “I don’t want other families to go through this,” breathes the 21-year-old man.
With the Associated Press