On Monday, March 11 in Ukrainian Crisis Media Center representatives of the Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine and the Crimean Tatar Resource Center stated that the Ukrainian youth expressed solidarity with the political prisoners of Crimea and the Crimean Tatar people at the song festival “Songs for Freedom” held earlier by the organizations and gathered 10000 hryvnias for children who remained on the peninsula without breadwinners. In addition, it was decided to hold a festival “Songs for Freedom” annually.
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Young singers and bands, the participants and finalists of “ The Voice of the country”, “X-Factor”, “Eurovision Song Contest” etc performed at the festival .The guests of the festival were pleased by such musicians as Khayat, Luka, Lavika, Anton Yakubovsky, Jerry Heil, Roksolana Sirota, Ivan Varava, Margarita Dvoinenko, Ruslana Kiryushenko, Alexander Ilyukha, band Shatur-Gudur, Iren Gritsiv, Liora Kotlyar, Sergey Solovyov, Christina Kirova (LDLU-Band), band Proroka, Maria Kaplina, Anton Cherepenko, Marina Tyunkina.
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According to Eskender Bariiev, the head of the CTRC, a member of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, the festival “Songs for Freedom” – was a youth campaign that combined creativity, patriotism, cultural recreation and charity.
“The goal of the campaign was to involve the youth of Ukraine in the topic of de-occupation of Crimea, the violation of human rights in the occupied Crimea, to assist the families of the political prisoners- hostages of Kremlin”, – said Bariiev.
Artur Kharitonov, the president of the public organization "Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine" noted that the festival "Songs for Freedom: 2019" was devoted to the freedom of a person and the whole Ukraine. He added that the artists and bands who performed at the concert presented not only good music, but also inspired young people to fight for freedom.
“I am impressed with the openness, sincerity of our performers – you can hardly find them in any other country in the world, but Ukraine: they are U-wave, who destroy walls and stereotypes, making this world a wonderful place to live in”, – emphasized Kharitonov.
Roma Leuta, General Secretary LDLU noted that many people followed the concert in Europe and are ready to adopt the format of the festival and hold it in the European cities.
“The whole world kept watching over our format, this innovation. Many people from Europe were interested in the features of such a festival. They want to adopt this format. There were even offers to hold the Ukrainian festival in Europe. They are ready even to provide the platforms. In addition, some performers from Europe would also be happy to join our struggle and raise important issues for us”, – Leuta said.
LUKA, one of the performers at the charity festival, noted that today the topic of Crimea is fading into the background, but it should be on the agenda. According to him, he, as a musician, had no doubts about his participation at the festival. The young man believes that it is necessary to fight for all our territories and for freedom in general.
“Someone says that arts should be out of politics, someone – says that arts should tell more about peace, love and I wholly support this, but first of all, in my opinion, everyone should be a conscious citizen of their country and love their state . If there is any desire to be called a Ukrainian, then there cannot be black and white, there should be one specific “Ukrainian position”, – noted LUKA.
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The organizers of the music festival announced about the transfer of funds raised to Crimea for the children of political prisoners.
“We managed to raise 10 000 hryvnias for children of political prisoners, maybe not so much, but it was done from the bottom of the heart, this is a hot message from the Ukrainian youth to their compatriots in the occupied Crimea”, – noted the head of the CTRC and said that soon this money will be sent to Crimea.
The organizers also added that it was decided to turn “Songs for Freedom” into the annual festival for freedom and expressed the hope that the second festival will take place in Crimea.
Recall on February 28 a charity music festival "Songs for Freedom" dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the occupation of Crimea was held in the capital's concert-club "Tepliy Lampoviy" .
Photo: CTRC, UCMC