ATHENS, March 2. /TASS/. Ethnic Greeks in Ukraine have been exposed to the risk of terrorism and murder threats from the Ukrainian nationalist paramilitary groups for eight years. Now, with Russia’s recognition of Donbass they have gained freedom, the Panhellenic Movement of Greek-Russian Friendship said in a statement received by TASS.

"For the past eight years, ethnic Greeks in Donbass have not only been exposed to attacks [by Ukrainian forces], murders and threats with the aim of driving them out of the lands, where they have lived side by side with Russian people in accord and harmony for thousands of years. Over the past eight years nobody from the EU or the West or Greece has shown any interest or wish to condemn this new genocide by Ukraine’s semi-governmental structures and to support in practice our compatriots exposed to hardships. With the recognition of the independence of Donbass our compatriots have been freed and now feel completely secure. The same atmosphere exists in other regions, including Crimea, where more than 150,000 Greeks reside," reads the statement signed by the party’s leader, Ioannis Kotsialidis.

"We, the Panhellenic Movement of Greek-Russian Friendship, welcome President Vladimir Putin’s clear promise to protect and respect the rights of all ethnic Greeks residing in Ukraine, the way he did that throughout the years in Russia’s regions and in Crimea, where thousands of Greeks have their homes and who are no longer faced with danger and who now prosper and play an important role in these regions’ politics and the economy," the statement says.

"Contrary to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ statement at a meeting of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) it is necessary to protect Ukraine’s Greeks by resettling them to Greece we believe that this would be tantamount to evicting them from the homes of their ancestors." The party believes that they should stay in safety at the place where they live, if they wish, and to go on living a normal life."

"The Russian state guarantees this, which is historically proven," the statement reads.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 launched a special military operation in Ukraine following a request for assistance from the leaders of the Donbass republics. He said Moscow had no plans for an occupation of Ukrainian territories.