As Members of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Committee of the Regions, we stand in full solidarity with all democratically and legally elected representatives of Ukrainian local authorities who have been subjected to the most severe conditions in recent weeks.

We vehemently oppose the abduction of the two mayors of the Ukrainian cities, Melitopol and Dniprorudne, by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, which constitutes the utmost violation of all norms of international law. This barbaric act must be condemned. It clearly shows that there is a surge in the systemic violations by occupying forces, and is getting worse every day.

In light of the above, we call for immediate intervention at the highest intergovernmental and EU level for the release of detained local government representatives and the continuation of efforts to de-escalate violence and protect civilians. 

Władysław ORTYL, President, Marshal of the Podkarpackie region, Poland

Rob JONKMAN, First Vice-President, Alderman in Opsterland, The Netherlands

Juraj DROBA, Vice-President, President of the Bratislava region, Slovakia

Anna MAGYAR, Vice-President, Councillor in Csongrád-Csanád County, Hungary

Marco MARSILIO, Vice-President, President of the Abruzzo region, Italy

Oldřich VLASÁK, Vice-President, Councillor in Hradec Králové, Czech Republlic 

Adam BANASZAK, Councillor in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region, Poland

Matteo BIANCHI, Councillor in Varese, Member of Chamber of Deputies, Italy

Pavel BRANDA, Deputy Mayor of Rádlo, Czech Republic

Guido CASTELLI, Regional Minister in Marche, Italy

Jakub CHEŁSTOWSKI, Marshal of the Silesia region, Poland

Roberto CIAMBETTI, President of the Regional Council of Veneto, Italy

Elia DELMIGLIO, Mayor of Casalpusterlengo, Italy

Paweł GRZYBOWSKI, Mayor of Rypin, Poland

Barbara HEGEDŰS, Deputy Mayor of Veszprém, Hungary

Ilpo HELTIMOINEN, Councillor in Lappeenranta, Finland 

Dan JIRÁNEK, Councillor in Kladno, Czech Republic

Erika JURINOVÁ, President of the Žilina region, Slovakia

Pavel KARPÍŠEK, Councillor in the Plzeň region, Senator, Czech Republic

Robert KOŚCIUK, Mayor of Krasnystaw, Poland

Witold KOZŁOWSKI, Marshal of the Małopolska region, Poland

Sebastian ŁUKASZEWICZ, Deputy Marshal of the Podlaskie region, Poland 

Michele PAIS, President of the Regional Council of Sardinia, Italy

Cezary PRZYBYLSKI, Marshal of the Lower Silesia region, Poland

Grzegorz SCHREIBER, Marshal of the Łódzkie region, Poland

Jarosław STAWIARSKI, Marshal of the Lubelskie region, Poland

Tjisse STELPSTRA, Regional Minister in the Drenthe province, The Netherlands

Peter  ŠVARAL, Mayor of Rohožník, Slovakia

Donatella TESEI, President of the Umbria region, Italy

Luca ZAIA, President of the Veneto region, Italy