Visit by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Nantes on 27 November 2023

His Excellency, Mr Vadym Omelchenko
Ambassador of Ukraine in France
21, avenue de Saxe
75007 Paris
France

Subject: visit by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Nantes on 27 November 2023

Nantes, 15th October 2023

Your Excellency,

I heard that the Franco-Ukrainian association Tryzub, the main one in the Loire-Atlantique Department, has received an informal but no less peremptory injunction from Mr Christophe Courtois to prepare for your visit to Nantes on 27 November 2023. Mr Christophe Courtois backed up his order by claiming to be Honorary Consul for the ‘Pays de la Loire’ region in the very near future. However, he does not seem to have the qualities required by the Ukrainian government for this type of responsibility. The Tryzub association has written to Mr Serhii Esaulov, Ukrainian Consul in France, to request reliable information. This letter, in French and Ukrainian, is attached. Mr Serhii Esaulov did not reply.

At the same time, Tryzub received two letters from a small organisation also contacted by Mr Christophe Courtois. These documents are attached. The micro-entity in question, mainly limited to its founding couple, does not have a good reputation within the Ukrainian community, among French pro-Ukraine activists or with some services of the local municipality. In addition, it launched two legal proceedings against those who were concerned about its practices and its collaboration with Russian and pro-Russian networks. It lost its first case. The second one is still pending. As you can see in attachment, I’m one of the people this couple solicited as part of their shenanigans.

Your Excellency, your visit to Nantes has been eagerly awaited for many years. Everyone should be looking forward to this event. I’m sure that Tryzub is ready to arrange for you to meet the Ukrainian representative associations with recognised and impeccable legitimacy in the region. It will also be happy to facilitate your contacts with the city and departmental authorities, to whom Ukrainian nationals owe so much. On the other hand, there are many people here who disagree with the way in which Mr Christophe Courtois and the couple relaying him are planning to exploit the situation.

If your visit were to take place under the conditions envisaged today, it is not out of the question that local Ukrainian associations would have to dissociate themselves from it regarding the public as well as the authorities of the Metropole and the General Council, in order to preserve the image and the interests of Ukraine and the local Ukrainian community. It is doubtful that this will be enough to contain the exasperation of activists and volunteers, shocked by what they see as a ‘maskirovka’. And yet, at a time when your country needs to mobilise all forces to repel the Russian genocidal invasion, we must avoid any bone of contention, as your enemy’s propaganda likes to sow among us.

That is why I have no doubt that the Ukrainian associations are determined to invest their best efforts in organising your visit to make it a success. To this end, I dare to recommend clear instructions being sent to them, directly by your services and not through dubious intermediaries. It would be also advisable they receive written confirmation that Mr Christophe Courtois, the aforementioned couple and their rump ‘association’ are strictly excluded.

I would like to thank you for your attention to this letter.

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration
                                                                         and of my devotion to Ukraine.

Bernard Grua
https://bernardgrua.net

NB: in this online version, names are hidden and attachments not disclosed for confidentiality reasons.