A discussion was held in Odesa on how the experiences of dissidents have influenced democracy in Ukraine

On October 13, a lecture was held in Odesa by Ukrainian human rights activist, dissident, and public figure Yosif Zissels on the joint struggle of Ukrainian and Jewish dissidents and their role in the formation of nation-states.

The event took place at the “Territory of Memory” Genocide Museum at 10 Sadova Street. A photojournalist from Intenta attended the lecture.

The topic of the event was “Ukrainian and Jewish Dissidents: From a Joint Struggle to Self-Realization in Nation-States.”

<picture></picture>Yosif Zissels. PHOTO: Intent/Natalia Dovbysh

The lecture covered dissident movements, the struggle for freedom and human rights, national identity, and the preservation of historical truth. Special attention was paid to the interaction between representatives of different national communities within the dissident movement and the significance of this experience for the formation of a political nation and democratic values in modern Ukraine.

Yosif Zissels is a member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group, a former Soviet political prisoner, executive co-president of the Vaad of Ukraine, and executive vice president of the Congress of National Communities of Ukraine.

<picture></picture>PHOTO: Intent/Natalia Dovbysh

From 2005 to 2010, he served as an advisor to the President of Ukraine on interethnic relations.

Zissels is also a member of the “First of December” Initiative Group and has worked for many years in the field of human rights and interethnic dialogue.

The lecture was organized by the non-governmental organization “Odessa Center for Holocaust Studies” with the support of UNESCO as part of a series of public events at the “Territory of Memory” Genocide Museum.

Ірина Глухова