Australia: Communist Unity organisation backs campaign to free jailed Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk

7 September 2026facebook iconBogdan Syrotiuk in mid-April 2024.The Communist Unity group in Australia has joined a growing number of left-wing organisations internationally that have condemned last month’s conviction of Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk on frame-up treason charges.

Syrotiuk has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for his political views. While opposing the Russian invasion, Syrotiuk exposed the character of the conflict as a US-NATO proxy war targeting Moscow. He fought for the unity of Ukrainian and Russian workers on a socialist program against all the capitalist governments of the region, including the authoritarian Zelensky regime.

Communist Unity’s Central Committee recently passed the following motion:

Whereas comrade Bogdan Syrotiuk of the International Committee of the Fourth International has been arrested for and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Ukrainian state for the crime of writing for the World Socialist Website.

Whereas Communist Unity maintains a revolutionary defeatist position on the Russo-Ukrainian [war] and stands for the uncompromising defence of all socialists, and revolutionaries in Australia and abroad.

Whereas the Fourth General Conference resolved to support the work of the Partisan Defence Committee as a non-sectarian class struggle organisation.

Be it resolved that Communist Unity stands in the fight for the freedom of Bogdan Syrotiuk and resolves to support the movement for his freedom to the maximal extent possible.

Communist Unity, formerly the Revolutionary Communist Organisation (RCO), merged with the Spartacist League/Australia in early 2026 and adopted its present name. The Partisan Defence Committee, associated with the Spartacist League internationally, has previously issued statements condemning the imprisonment of Syrotiuk.

Communist Unity has substantial political differences with the World Socialist Web Site and the International Committee of the Fourth International. Its support for Bogdan’s defence nevertheless reflects the basic class principle that no socialist should be imprisoned for opposing imperialist war and advocating the international unity of the working class.

What is the historical background of the International Committee of the Fourth International and how did it come to have members active in Ukraine today?How does the imprisonment of Bogdan Syrotiuk compare to earlier state repression against socialists who opposed imperialist wars, and what can that history teach about building an international defense campaign?Ask more questions at SocialismAI.comThe deadline for submitting Bogdan’s appeal is September 9. The mobilisation of support from left-wing organisations internationally is therefore an important means of bringing political pressure to bear on the Ukrainian authorities and demanding his immediate release, as well as breaking the silence on the case imposed by the official media internationally, including in Australia.

Communist Unity has indicated that it is preparing a public statement on the case and will discuss further measures to publicise the campaign at its next Central Committee meeting.

To sign the petition for Syrotiuk’s release and support the campaign go to freebogdan.wsws.org.