The student union Priama Diia (Direct action) demands the requisition of the Russian embassy

The building, located at 27 Povitroflotsky Prospect in the Ukrainian capital, has three floors and a total surface area of around 4,000 square metres. On 20 April this year, the Kyiv City Council terminated the lease. The student union has launched a petition, the text of which we reproduce here:

Returning the Russian Embassy to the community

We propose to convert the former Russian embassy building into a community centre. Diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation have now broken down and are unlikely to be re-established in the near future. Instead of remaining empty, the former Russian embassy building could benefit the Ukrainian community. A community centre is a space that can be used to organise events by any non-profit organisation (for example, the organisation of free courses), to host cooperatives, to provide shelter and other assistance to those in need, and in general to implement any civil society initiative. The new building will contribute to the realisation of many important and useful projects for the Ukrainian people. We ask that the community be given the opportunity to occupy the building without hindrance.

Kyiv Independent Student Union Priama Diia (Direct Action).

The activists explain that this requisition would provide a place where everyone could:

- run activities (for example, organise free courses) ;

- place cooperative productions and warehouses ;

- take shelter ;

- give or receive help ;

- implement any of your initiatives!

The international trade union network for solidarity and struggle supports this new initiative by the Priama Diia! student union.