“Bitcoin resists tools of oppression” — Lyudmyla Kozlovska for BitCorner

15 March 2023 | Author: Natalia Melnychenko

In March 2023, Lyudmyla Kozlovska, President of the Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF), gave an interview to Juan Cienfuegos, founder of BitCorner — the first Salvadorian podcast dedicated to Bitcoin. During the interview, she spoke about Bitcoin’s role in the field of human rights, the CBDC, the war in Ukraine and financial exclusion.

Lyudmyla Kozlovska told the story of how Bitcoin has become a tool for ODF to defend human rights in authoritarian countries such as Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkey, and to provide humanitarian aid to war-stricken Ukraine. But not only. “Bitcoin has also become a tool for myself, and in a European country. In my case, Kazakhstan, Russia, Poland and Moldova under Plahotniuc rule worked together to deprive me of the right to have a bank account in Belgium, where I live. They used anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws for transnational repression,” the ODF President said, while adding that this is why the Foundation is currently working with regulators of AML/CFT laws in European Union countries to establish laws that protect individuals not only within Europe, but also precisely in authoritarian countries.

The ODF President also referred to the situation in Ukraine, when, as a result of the Russian invasion, many Ukrainians, both those in the occupied territories and those who had to flee to other countries, were deprived of access to traditional financial systems. It was also then that Bitcoin became a lifeline for them. Moreover, the Foundation itself, using stablecoins, was able to raise funds and purchase humanitarian aid for Ukrainian military at an express pace.

When asked about her attitude towards CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency), Lyudmyla made no secret of her concerns, citing the example of China, which has enslaved its citizens with the digital yuan. “CBDC pushes us towards financial slavery, where we are completely dependent on someone else’s will, emotions or point of view. It encourages those in authority in the state to use it as a tool of abuse over its citizens. Bitcoin, on the other hand, has the advantage that it cannot be manipulated or used as a tool of oppression,” she explained.

We encourage you to watch the entire interview:

as well as other interviews with Lyudmyla Kozlovska: