Civic Committee of the Solidarity with Ukraine – Polish organization founded in order to support pro-democratic changes in Ukraine. The group has been established at the beginning of Revolution of Dignityin the beginning of 2014.
Mission
The mission - as declared in Founding Declaration - is support for pro-democratic changes in Ukraine, but also providing support to people and organizations repressed for their political beliefs. Other aims are:
Mobilization of public opinion in Poland and abroad for its solidarity with Ukraine.
Money collection for the Fund of Solidarity with Ukraine, but mostly support and promotion of various already existing non-governmental initiatives that were active and experienced in this thematic area.
Support of initiatives for the material and substantial support for Ukrainian citizens in need and organizations and initiatives involved in activities for pro-democratic changes in Ukraine.
Informing media and public opinion about situation in Ukraine.
Foundation
The Committee was founded on 30 January 2014, which was announced on a press conference held on 4 February 2014 in Warsaw. The name of the committee, its structure and activities was a reference to the tradition of Solidarity Citizens' Committees of late 1980s which declared that "people of various political stands and diverse nationalities worked together for the creation of independent and self-governing Republic". According to its founding declaration, the Committee - by its activity - wants to ensure the citizens of Ukraine the same possibility of building an independent state and - acting by the rule of subsidiarity - support them in their actions towards this goal. Simultaneously, from its foundation, KOSzU has declared and realized policy of political independence. And also, that it will not be attempting to gain legal personality or own assets.
The activities of the Committee are based on social and voluntary work of own members organized in working sections:
information section;
section of direct support on the territory of Ukraine - the section can run "public collections in order to support wounded, repressed and their families in Kyiv and other cities";
legal section - providing "support in publicizing cases of abuse of power towards Ukrainian citizens, conducting publicity in Poland of cases of people repressed and beaten by Ukrainian authorities, and prepares intervention letters to the Ukrainian authorities, including regions of Ukraine, on the fate of protesters on whom unlawful investigations have been initiated "
