State Rep. Scott Plakon Speaks to Apopka's Ukraine Festival: "Putin is an evil man"

The annual Apopka Ukrainian Festival welcomed Republican State Rep. Scott Plakon to address the Russian invasion as the highest ranking Ukrainian-American in the Florida House. Event proponent Oleksandr Zagvazdin, who left Ukraine four years ago for his own safety, invited Plakon.

“Please do something,” Zagvazdin said. “Any harsh political influence in the international arena like excluding them from the UN or sending more weapons or sending the Red Cross would help.”

Plakon conveyed support from his colleagues in the Florida House for Ukraine, and said he hoped to return for the 31st independence day celebration at the Apopka festival next year.

“Putin is an evil man in his heart and the people of Ukraine are good at heart,” Plakon said. “In the end good always wins.”

“I’ve been hesitant to talk about political things as good and evil. But there are some political things that are good and evil. Vladimir Putin is an evil man,” Plakon told 200-300 people gathered at the three-day Ukrainian Orlando Festival.

Other speakers included Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson and Ukrainian community leaders, such as Nadiya Lewytska of the Ukrainian Women organization. The festival also included numerous singers, including Plakon’s wife, Rachel Plakon, who is running as a Republican to succeed him in House District 29.

Hundreds of protestors joined together on the amphitheater stage to film a video in support of Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelinsky, first singing the U.S. national anthem followed by the Ukrainian national anthem. The compilation will be sent to the Ukrainian president.

Many at the festival gave powerful speeches about freedom, faith and their relatives' plight in Ukraine.

Although much of the crowd consisted of Ukrainian-Americans, many others, like Colombian native Luis Alfonso Gallego, joined the event. He and his Ukrainian wife also said they hoped to fly to Washington D.C. to bolster protestors there in support of Ukraine.

“I would go and fight even though it’s not my country,” Gallego said.

The festival usually consists of joyful folk tunes, although this year's musical line up remained less than upbeat, with more somber selections being chosen this year.

The festival continues Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.