The municipal council in Lyngdal recognize Holodomor as genocide

In a resolution of 15 December 2022, the municipal council in Lyngdal has recognized the famine in Ukraine, the Holodomor, as genocide.

This is the first public recognition that has been made in Norway. Lyngdal municipality was also the first public institution to erect a memorial to honor the Ukrainian soldiers who fell in Norway during the Second World War. It was unveiled on May 14, 2022.

The Holodomor, which means "killing by hunger", was caused by Joseph Stalin's agricultural collectivization policy, because human life meant nothing compared to the regime's gigantic economic and military plans. It is estimated that up to 7 million people died as a result of executions, deportations and starvation during the Stalin-era campaign. It is important to gain knowledge about this Holodomor genocide that happened in 1932-1933, also to prevent similar crimes in the future.

The UN General Assembly adopted a joint declaration on the famine on 10 November 2003, recognizing it as a "national tragedy" for Ukraine.

In a resolution adopted on 28/04/2010, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) strongly condemned "the cruel policies pursued by the Stalinist regime" which triggered the great famine of 1929 in the grain-growing areas of the former Soviet Union, which culminated in 1932- 33. As of December 2015, a number of countries including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, Spain, Italy, Poland and Germany recognize the famine as an act of genocide.

We believe it is important to combat disinformation and attempts to rewrite history. And it is important to have knowledge of the Holodomor in today's brutal attacks by Putin's regime against the Ukrainian people. This is to do everything we can to prevent another genocide and to condemn the war crimes being committed today.

We also encourage other municipalities and the Norwegian state to recognize crimes committed by the Stalinist regime, including the Holodomor from 1932-33 in Ukraine.

"We had a good dialogue with the Ukrainian embassy in Norway and with "Support to the people of Ukraine" in this important matter. We are aware of the significance of this decision for the Ukrainian people", says mayor Jan Kristensen in Lyngdal municipality.

We follow the call of this year's Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize winner, Oleksandra Matviichuk, when she says “You don't have to be Ukrainian to support Ukraine. It's probably just being human." The Ukrainian people overcame the horrors of the Holodomor, demonstrated their courage and resilience, and ultimately created a free and democratic society. While we remember the pain and victims of the Holodomor, Lyngdal municipality also confirms our commitment to the people of Ukraine today and our unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.  We condemn the brutal attack by Russia.

Photo: dr. Liliia Honcharevych, Charge'd affair at the Ukrainian Embassy in Norway and mayor Jan Kristensen

Facts about Holodomor