Vienna, February 24, 2022
Dear DPP Students, Alumni, Faculty, and Staff
dear Members of the DPP Community
As you know, the armed forces of the Russian Federation have now directly attacked Ukraine.
This is a historical moment of gravest consequences. I mourn every lost life, I am deeply saddened by every bullet shot, every house destroyed, every school bombed. I am particularly concerned about fellow students and academics at Ukrainian universities, whose studies and work have been interrupted.
In the name of humanity and the values that transcend any divisions between people, I strongly condemn this war and I call on President Putin to bring his troops back to Russia now!
At the Department of Public Policy, we are privileged to have students, alumni, and other members from both Ukraine and Russia in our community.
To our Ukrainian and Russian students and alumni in particular: I firmly stand with each and every one of you, no matter where you come from. You all are integral members of our community, and you make it stronger in a myriad of ways.
This war affects your families and inflicts enormous suffering on you. Yet, this war is not yours.
At such a grave moment of specific importance, I call on every member of our community, whether from Ukraine, Russia, or any other country, to uphold, defend and promote the values that our community is built on, and remain on the path of truth and love, rejecting hatred and lies. This should be our answer to tyrants of any and all sorts. This is what they fear, and this is what will make us all victorious.
Please let me know if I or my colleagues at the department can be helpful in any way. We will do our best to help and support you.
Sincerely yours,
Martin Kahanec
Head of Department