The members of the Center for East European Law and Eurasian Studies as well as of the Institute of International Law and International Relations and the Institute of European Law at the University of Graz, are dismayed by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which is contrary to international law and unprovoked; in particular by the use of force as well as gross violations of both international humanitarian law and human rights. Dismayed by the fact that a gateway to war in our Europe, which was thought to be firmly closed, has been thrown wide open, we hereby express our full solidarity with Ukraine and all people affected by the war there, especially our academic colleagues. This situation is also about the right of every European state to freely choose its political, social, economic and cultural system, as guaranteed by the Helsinki Charter. Our sympathy also extends to the people in Russia as well as in Belarus who, just like us, strive for the rule of international law and peaceful coexistence, but who are instead subjected to repression. We want to continue to represent an open space for academic discourse in these dark hours and vehemently oppose any disregard of the law. The Russian Federation must withdraw from Ukraine and work with Ukraine to resolve any disputes peacefully and without resorting to the use of force.