Maria Daniella Marouda, Chair of ECRI, made the following comments in relation to the ongoing war in Ukraine:

"On behalf of ECRI’s Bureau, I would like to express our deepest sympathy and solidarity with the Ukrainian people and all other persons and families affected by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

It is heartening to see that in the current situation other Council of Europe member states are doing their utmost to welcome the fast-increasing flows of people fleeing Ukraine, offering them safety and access to basic services, and I urge governments to continue doing so, for as long as necessary, regardless of the ethnic or national origin, citizenship, language, skin colour, religion or other characteristics of the persons seeking protection.

I reiterate ECRI’s general call to all sides to refrain from any ultra-nationalistic or racist hate speech or conduct in relation to confrontations and conflicts.

ECRI will also continue to monitor racism and intolerance in the Russian Federation."