The international human rights organization Amnesty International should have known that "all respected European institutions equate Nazism with the crimes of communism"; Implementation of the law on decommunization in Ukraine - not political persecution, and the cessation of criminal political practices.

Such a statement to the "Observer" was made by Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Vyacheslav Kirilenko, commenting on Amnesty International's condemnation of the detention of "peaceful demonstrators" on May 9.

"I think everyone who understands this topic knows that there are numerous decisions of European institutions, including the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and even the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on condemning the crimes of Nazism, communism and totalitarianism. All respected European institutions equate Nazism with crimes of communism. That is why in Ukraine, as in any civilized European country, both Nazi and now Communist symbols are banned after the adoption of decommunization laws in 2015. This is a standard practice that is common in every civilized country, "he said..

Kirilenko reminded human rights activists that "crimes that took place in the past cost Ukraine tens of millions of victims". "Only the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people took at least 7 million lives. And if you count all the victims in the former Soviet empire, then it's about more than 50 million lives ".

The Vice Prime Minister is convinced: "The law on decommunization is not a law on political persecution, but a law that criminal political practices should be banned".

In this context, he noted that "there is no question in Germany when someone goes out with a swastika to the street - he is detained. And this is normal, this is the fulfillment of the law. And here, if someone comes out with a sickle and a hammer and propagandizes the crimes of the past, then we violate human rights - in the interpretation of some human rights activists ".

"I think this interpretation is wrong - from the ethical and legal point of view.

About what I wrote in my comments - first of all, as a citizen, "- he said, referring to his recent post on Twitter.

As the "Observer" wrote, Amnesty International in Ukraine condemned the detention of "peaceful demonstrators" on May 9 and believes that the Ukrainian authorities "are obliged to ensure freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly for all citizens". This is stated in the statement of the organization.

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