The usual attitude of amateur radio is that it is apolitical.
All these years, RigExpert has been open to HAM’s of all countries in every possible way. We always maintain good relations with all experts.
But now, we must take action against Russian and Belarusian radio amateurs.
Because, the recent actions of the Russian Federation and its armed forces have crossed the line.
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched full-scale aggression against Ukraine from the East, from the territory of Russia, from the south, from occupied Crimea, and the North, from the territory of Belarus.
Russia uses all weapons against Ukraine, including cruise and ballistic missiles.
Over the past four months, Russia has fired about 3,000 huge missiles at Ukrainian cities.
Using the airspace of Belarus for missile attacks.
Twelve Kh-22 ballistic missiles launched by six Tu-22M3 Russian supersonic bombers over Belarus were used in attacks targeting Chernihiv, Kyiv, Sumy, and Zhytomyr on June 25.
On June 27, 2022, the Russian Armed Forces fired two Kh-22 ballistic missiles into central Kremenchuk, Poltava Oblast, hitting the Amstor shopping mall. Nineteen people were killed and 66 injured. At least 21 people, including two children, have died after two Russian missiles struck a recreation center in a small coastal town near Odessa on July 1.
Every day and every night, the cities of Ukraine are shelled. Civilians die women and children.
Russia is carrying out genocide in the occupied territories – these facts have been proven by the international community. And by providing its airspace for missile attacks, Belarus becomes an accomplice of the aggressor. This is directly evidenced by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3314 (XXIX).
How does all of the above relate to amateur radio and our position?
Ukrainian HAM’s is now blocked.
Due to Russian aggression against Ukraine since February 24, a decree from President Volodymyr Zelensky included “a ban on the operation of amateur radio transmitters for personal and collective use.” Unfortunately, Ukrainian HAM’s cannot go on air or leave the country to visit exhibitions and participate in contests due to the martial law in the country. Many famous amateur radio stations are blown up.
We agree that radio is about self-instruction in communications and friendship between people and should be outside politics. However, we cannot say the same about the Russian radio community. According to the survey of VCIOM dated 10.06.2022! more than 80% of Russian society, whose members are Russian HAM’s, support Putin’s policy.
We stand in solidarity with the Radio Society of Great Britain and others who are trying to restrict Russian and Belarusian radio amateurs. The RigExpert team and all Ukrainian HAM’s believe that it is Belarusian and Russian amateurs who should demand from their government to stop the aggressive war.
Therefore, we propose the introduction of a specific restriction in amateur radio clubs for HAM’s from Russia and Belarus. Because of such a position, together we will be able to encourage them not to take a two-faced position by silently supporting aggression against Ukraine and hiding behind the slogan “amateur radio out of politics”, but to take an action, demanding from their governments to stop the war.
Thank you to all those who support us.
We are in contact with radio clubs and contest organizing committees worldwide and reasonably convey our position, which, in our opinion, corresponds to the spirit of the amateur radio hobby and the original Amateur’s Code, written by Paul M. Segal, W9EEA, in 1928.
We also appealed to the organizing committee of the respected WRTC with a similar request to comply with the fundamental principle of WRTC competition by creating equal conditions for competitors and to ban Russian and Belarusian teams. Since the unprovoked ban of Ukrainian radio amateurs was caused by aggression from the states of Russia and Belarus.
The request was accepted by them and promised to be considered.