There is ongoing expert discussion on whether the Euromaidan movement constitutes a revolution, and many protest leaders (such as Oleh Tyahnybok) already use this term frequently when addressing the public. Select media outlets in the region have dubbed the evolution of the movement, Eurorevolution (Ukrainian: Єврореволюція).[48]
The protests are ongoing despite a heavy police presence, and an increasing number of university students are joining the protests.[43][49][50][51] Escalating violence in the early morning of 30 November from government forces has caused the level of protests to rise, with 400,000–800,000 protesters demonstrating in Kiev on weekends of 1 December[23] and 8 December.[52]
Social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as widespread mobile internet access has played a key role in the communications among protesters, as well as their ability to communicate to and organize support internationally.[53] The term Euromaidan rose to prominence with the circulation of the tag #Euromaidan on social media sites.[54]
On 30 March 2012 the European Union (EU) and Ukraine signed an Association Agreement;[55] however, the EU leaders later stated that the agreement would not be ratified unless Ukraine addressed concerns over a "stark deterioration of democracy and the rule of law", including the imprisonment of Yulia Tymoshenko and Yuriy Lutsenko in 2011 and 2012.[56][57][58][nb 4] In the months leading up to the protests Ukrainian PresidentViktor Yanukovych urged the parliament to adopt laws so that Ukraine would meet the EU's criteria.[60][61] On 25 September 2013 Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) Volodymyr Rybak stated that he was sure that his parliament would pass all the laws needed to fit the EU criteria for the Association Agreement since, except for the Communist Party of Ukraine, "The Verkhovna Rada has united around these bills".[62]
On 21 November 2013 a Ukrainian government decree suspended preparations for signing of the association agreement.[63][64] The reason given was that the previous months Ukraine had experienced "a drop in industrial production and our relations with CIS countries".[65] The government also assured "Ukraine will resume preparing the agreement when the drop in industrial production and our relations with CIS countries are compensated by the European market".[65] According to Ukrainian Prime MinisterMykola Azarov "the extremely harsh conditions" of an IMFloan (presented by the IMF on 20 November 2013), which included big budget cuts and a 40% increase in gas bills, had been the last argument in favor of the Ukrainian government's decision to suspend preparations for signing the Association Agreement.[66][67] On 7 December 2013 the IMF clarified that it was not insisting on a single-stage increase in natural gas tariffs in Ukraine by 40%, but recommended that they be gradually raised to an economically justified level while compensating the poorest segments of the population for the losses from such an increase by strengthening targeted social assistance.[68] The same day IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Jerome Vacher stated that this particular IMF loan is worth 4 billion US Dollars and that it would be linked with "policy, which would remove disproportions and stimulated growth".[69]
President Yanukovych did attend the 28–29 November 2013 EU summit in Vilnius (where originally it was planned that the Association Agreement would be signed on 29 November 2013)[60] but the Association Agreement was not signed.[70][71] Both Yanukovych and high level EU officials did signal that they wanted to sign the Association Agreement at a later date.[72][73][74]
Popular opinion in Ukraine about Association Agreement before Euromaidan
Ukrainians have shown preference to extending economic ties with the EU. According to an August 2013 study of a Donetsk company Research & Branding Group[75] 49% of Ukrainians supported signing the Association Agreement, while 31% opposed it and the rest had not decided yet. The strongest support (74%) was in the Western oblastsof Ukraine, following by the Central oblasts (57% supporters), while the support for the Agreement was weaker in the Southern oblasts (38% support vs 45% oppose) and Eastern oblasts (29% support vs 43% oppose). In a GfK poll conducted October 2–15, 2013, 45% of respondents believed Ukraine should sign an Association Agreement with the EU, whereas only 14% favored joining the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia, and 15% preferred non-alignment.[76] Another poll conducted in November by IFAK Ukraine for DW-Trend showed 58% of Ukrainians supporting the country’s entry into the European Union.[77] On the other hand a November 2013 poll by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology showed 39% supporting the country’s entry into the European Union and 37% supporting Ukraine's accession to the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.[78]
Comparison with the Orange Revolution
The pro-European Union protests are Ukraine's largest since the Orange Revolution of 2004, which saw Yanukovych forced to resign over allegations of voting irregularities. Although comparing the 2013 events in the same East-West vector as 2004, with Ukraine remaining "a key geopolitical prize in eastern Europe" for Russia and the EU, The Moscow Times noted that Yanukovych's government was in a significantly stronger position following his election in 2010.[79] The Financial Times said the 2013 protests were "largely spontaneous, sparked by social media, and have caught Ukraine’s political opposition unprepared" compared to their well-organized predecessors.[80] In an interview with opposition leader Yuri Lutsenko, when asked if weather the current opposition was weaker than it was in 2004 he argued, that it was stronger because the stakes were higher, "I asked each [of the opposition leaders]: "Do you realize that this is not a protest? It is a revolution [...] we have two roads - we go to prison or we win"[81]
Paul Robert Magocsi illustrated the effect of the Orange Revolution on Euromaidan, saying "Was the Orange Revolution a genuine revolution? Yes it was. And we see the effects today. The revolution wasn't a revolution of the streets or a revolution of (political) elections, it was a revolution of the minds of people, in the sense that for the first time in a long time a Ukrainian, and Ukrainians, people living in territorial Ukraine saw the opportunity to protest and change their situation. This was a profound change in the character of the population of the former Soviet Union." [82]Lviv-based historian Yaroslav Hrytsak also remarked on the generational shift, "This is a revolution of the generation that we call the contemporaries of Ukraine's independence (who were born around the time of 1991); it is more similar to the Occupy Wall Street protests or those in Istanbul demonstrations (of this year). It's a revolution of young people who are very educated, people who are active in social media, who are mobile and 90 percent of whom have university degrees, but who don't have futures."[43] According to Hrytsak: "Young Ukrainians resemble young Italians, Czech, Poles, or Germans more than they resemble Ukrainians who are 50 and older. This generation has a stronger desire for European integration and fewer regional divides than their seniors".[51] In a Kyiv International Institute of Sociology poll taken in September, joining the European Union was mostly supported by young Ukrainians (49.8% of those aged 18 to 29), higher than the national average of 43.2% support.[83][84] A November 2013 poll by the same institute found the same result with 50.8% aged 18 to 29 wanting to join the European Union while 39.7% was the national average of support.[85] An opinion poll by GfK conducted October 2–15 found that among respondents aged 16–29 with a position on integration, 73% favored signing an Association Agreement with the EU, while only 45% of those over the age of 45 favored Association. The lowest support for the European integration among people with incomplete secondary and secondary education.[76]
Protests
Pro-European Union rally in Kiev, 27 November 2013Opposition leaders Vitali Klitschko and Yuri Lutsenko stand with demonstrators on European Square
First week of the protests
Euromaidan started in the night of 21 November 2013 when up to 2,000 protesters gathered at Kiev's Maidan Nezalezhnosti and began to organize themselves with the help of social networks.[86] After he heard of the Ukrainian government decree to suspended preparations for signing of the Association Agreement on 21 November 2013,[63][64] opposition party Batkivshchyna faction leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk called, via Twitter for protests (which he dubbed as #Euromaidan) on Maidan Nezalezhnosti.[87] The blog of Yuri Andreev on Korrespondent.net asked people to gather on Maidan Nezalezhnosti that day at 22:30.[88]
Approximately 2,000 people converged in the evening of 22 November on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) to protest the decision of the Ukrainian government to suspend the process of integration of Ukraine into the European Union.[89] In the following days, the opposition and pro-EU parties led the protests.[90]
A larger rally took place on 24 November, when 100,000 to 200,000[91] people gathered on Kiev's Maidan Nezalezhnosti. The pro-EU demonstrators carrying Ukrainian and EU flags chanted "Ukraine is Europe" and sang the national anthem as they marched toward European Square for the rally.[92] News agencies claimed this to be the largest protest since the Orange Revolution of 2004.[93] After a small group of protesters attempted to storm the Cabinet of Ministersbuilding, police used tear gas to disperse them.[94]
A 26 November 2013 statement by Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov saying "I affirm with full authority that the negotiating process over the Association Agreement is continuing, and the work on moving our country closer to European standards is not stopping for a single day" did not appease protesters who blockaded the government building during the cabinet session during which Azarov made the above mentioned statement.[96] The same day the city of Kiev installed a heating tent (hot tea and sandwiches were served) at Maidan Nezalezhnosti, where about 2,000 students were rallying.[43] According to Kyiv Post this was part of an "Ukrainian authorities' attempt to portray themselves as allies with the demonstrators who, in many cases, are calling for the government to resign if it doesn't sign an assocation agreement with the European Union this week".[43] The same day it was reported that social media accounts of protesters were being hacked and disreputable messages being posted in place of rally news and commentary.[43]
Thousands of Ukrainians are continuing to express support to European integration and protesting against decision of Ukrainian government to refuse signing of association with EU in Vilnius. 27 November 2013. Kyiv, Ukraine.
On 26 and 27 November 2013 Lithuanian Parliament Speaker Loreta Graužinienė and Polish Sejm Member Marcin Święcicki spoke to the protesters at Maidan Nezalezhnosti.[43] Musical acts like Ruslana put on performances for demonstrators on Maidan Nezalezhnosti.[22][43] On 27 November it was reported that the Kharkiv Polytechnical Institute staff allegedly checked class attendance, threatening truant students who attend the pro-EU rallies in Kiev with expulsion. In other universities, administrators have forbidden students from joining pro-EU protests, posting political commentary to social media networks, and wearing Ukraine-EU ribbons.[43] According to Euronews the protesters in Kiev numbered ten thousand people, many of them students.[50]
Maidan Nezalezhnosti flooded with pro-EU protesting people. 27 November 2013. Kyiv, Ukraine.
At noon of 28 November (the eighth day of protests) about 3,000 people gathered on Maidan Nezalezhnosti; no party symbols were reported, only Ukrainian flags and European Union flags.[43] The crowd grew to 4,000 by the evening while it was again entertained by popular Ukrainian artists.[21][43]
On 29 November 2013, it became clear that Ukraine did not sign the Association Agreement at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. The number of protesters in Kiev went up to 10,000.[70][71][97] In Lviv, protesters numbered some 20,000.[97] As in Kiev the Lviv protesters locked hands in a human chain, symbolically linking Ukraine to the European Union (organizers claimed that some 100 people even crossed the Ukrainian-Polish border to extend the chain to the European Union).[97][98] Euronews reported that protesters in Kiev believed the rally should go on and were calling for the second Azarov Government's and PresidentViktor Yanukovych's resignation.[99]
On the night of 30 November 2013 at 04:00, armed with batons, stun grenades, and tear gas, Berkut special police units attacked and dispersed all protesters from Maidan Nezalezhnosti while suppressing mobile phone communications.[100][101] The police attacked not only the protesters (most of whom didn't or failed to put up resistance) but also other civilians in the vicinity of Maidan Nezalezhnosti, when the Berkut forces chased unarmed people several hundreds meters and continued to beat them with batons and feet.[102] Initially, 35 people were injured as a result of the militia raid, including a Reuters cameraman and a photographer.[103][104] Other protesters were detained.[101] Most of protesters were students.[104] At 09:20 Berkut besieged the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery where approximately 50 Euromaidan activists, including the injured, found sanctuary.[101][105] Police spokeswoman Olha Bilyk justified the police raid by saying that protesters were interfering with preparations to decorate the square for the Christmas and New Year's holidays.[106]Minister of Internal AffairsVitaliy Zakharchenko later apologized and claimed "riot police abused their power" and promised a thorough investigation.[107] Via state television he added "if there are calls for mass disturbances, then we will react to this harshly".[107]
In an official statement, Ukrainian Deputy Prosecutor General Anatoliy Pryshko confirmed that 79 people were injured during the raid, including 6 students, 4 reporters, and 2 foreigners; 10 people were hospitalized. In addition, 7 policemen were also injured.[108]
On 30 November 2013 by 13:00 another spontaneous meeting was taking place at St. Michael's Square near the St. Michael's Monastery as Maidan Nezalezhnosti continued to be guarded by the Berkut formations.[109] Ambassadors from some ten countries of the European Union, among which was the Ambassador of the European Union in Ukraine, Jan Tombinski, visited protesters at the meeting.[109] According to Hromadske.TV, by 16:00 the meeting gathered some 5,000 people who were shouting "Won't forgive", and "Revolution".[110] At St. Michael Square protesters started to form units of self-resistance.[111] Approximately 10,000 protesters remained in the evening of the 30th,[112] with an estimated 10,000 more from Lviv travelling to Kiev on Saturday night.[113]
On 30 November opposition parties Batkivshchyna, UDAR and Svoboda set up "Headquarters of National Resistance" throughout Ukraine.[114][115]
1 December riots
Estimates range that 400,000–800,000 attended the December 1 protests
On 1 December, Kiev's District Administrative Court banned further protests in downtown Kiev at both Maidan Nezalezhnosti and European Square, as well as in front of the Presidential Administration and Interior Ministry buildings, until 7 January 2014.[116] Opposition forces planned the rally on the 1st to take place at St. Michael's Square, which is not among the banned rally locations, with a march towards Maidan Nezalezhnosti.[117] During the December 1 rally, protesters followed through and defied the ban and marched form St. Michael's Square to re-take Maidan Nezalezhnosti. Protesters broke several windows in the city council building, followed by crowds spilling out of Maidan Nezalezhnosti to the Presidential Administration building at Bankova Street and the Cabinet building (Hrushevsky Street). People chanted "Out with the thugs" and sang the Ukrainian anthem. The opposition party Batkivshchyna claimed as much as 500,000 protesters turned out for the rallies, and opposition leader Petro Poroshenko claimed 350,000 were on Maidan Nezalezhnosti. Other news agencies reported over 100,000 in Maidan Nezalezhnosti alone,[118] and the total number of protesters to be from 400,000 to 800,000.[23][119][120][121][122][123]
At around 14:00, a group of protesters commandeered a bulldozer from Maidan Nezalezhnosti and attempted to pull down the fence surrounding the Presidential Administration building.[41] People threw bricks at Berkut guards. At least three people were injured outside of the presidential administration building, receiving head injuries from flying debris. AFP reporters saw security forces outside the Presidential Administration building fire dozens of stun grenades and smoke bombs at masked demonstrators who were pelting police with stones and Molotov cocktails.[41] The opposition stated that the aforementioned confrontations with police forces were organized by provocateurs and that the opposition has nothing to do with the conflict at Bankova street. They confirmed that the protests of opposition are peaceful.[124] Number of activists including People's Deputy of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko attempted to stop the tractor.[125][126]
Pro-EU protests cordon off the Maidan Nezalezhnosti's streets with a makeshift barrier
Radio Stolytsia reported that Berkut riot police stopped a motorcade of protesters from heading towards the presidential mansion in Mezhyhirya, a suburb north of Kiev.[126]
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported that more than 300 members of the radical Bratstvo (Brotherhood) organization were involved in unlawful actions committed outside the Presidential Administration building, who acted under the direction of its leader, Dmytro Korchynsky.[127]
The opposition occupied the Kiev City Council (City Hall) and the Trade Unions' building. They still remain under control of the protesters.[128] At the city council building, protesters broke windows to get inside the building and occupy it. They chanted "Kiev is ours" and hung a Ukrainian flag in the window.[118] The city police warned the protesters in City Hall that they will “undertake measures” to clear the building if they do not leave it, without specifying. “The capital's police warns that in case of non-compliance with the lawful demands, the law enforcers will undertake corresponding measures to free the building from violators of law.”[126]
Secretary of the Writer's Union of Ukraine Serhiy Pantiuk took a dozen women to shelter inside the Union building. After other protesters fleeing Berkut police took refuge in the building as well, police broke in though the rear windows and started beating everyone in the building, including women, journalists, and building security. There were up to 50 people hiding inside.[129]
The official websites of Ukraine's presidential administration and interior ministry that controls more than 300,000 law enforcement personnel had been down for most of the day. Local media reports claim that hackers are the cause, although no group has taken responsibility for it.[126]
At 20:00, an angry mob of thousands attacked Berkut riot units who were guarding the statue of Vladimir Lenin.[126] The crowd attacked with rocks, ladders, and other objects, while troops responded by deploying tear gas and making random attacks at the crowd. At least one Berkut member was heavily injured and the troops were forced to flee on a bus once overtaken by the crowd.[130]
Graffiti inscription "Revolution" ("Революція")
The opposition announced a national strike and launched construction of a tent city on Maidan Nezalezhnosti. Writer Irena Karpa also encouraged the nation to go on general strike – to skip work, boycott Russian products and continue the protests.[126] Opposition leaders stated that Yanukovych is planning on declaring a state of emergency on December 2.[126] Klitschko denounced the attempt to storm the president's office as an effort to provoke the government into declaring a state of emergency. He called for everyone to stay on the square in a peaceful protest.[131] He later called for the president's resignation, stating "They stole the dream. If this government does not want to fulfill the will of the people, then there will be no such government, there will be no such president. There will be a new government and a new president," he said to cheering crowds.[132] Meanwhile, Svoboda leader Oleh Tyahnybok called for a national strike and in an official release called for a "social and national revolution," saying a revolution has started in Ukraine.[133] Opposition leader Yuri Lutsenko also called for a revolution to take place, saying "Our plan is clear: this is not a rally, not an action. This – is a revolution," and called to complete the revolutions which took place in 1991 and 2004.[134]
Injuries
Five riot police sustained bodily injuries and three have been chemically poisoned from an unknown gas, Ukrainska Pravda reports.[citation needed] As of 4 p.m. 22 people had been injured and sought medical attention in emergency rooms in clashes during the demonstrations in Kiev, according to the health department of the Kiev City State Administration. In most cases, those injured were treated for chemical burns of the eyes and bodily injuries, according to Interfax-Ukraine. Kiev police spokeswoman Olha Bilyk said by telephone that around 100 officers were wounded in the clashes. A mayor's office official said nearly 50 demonstrators had also been treated by doctors for various injuries.[41]Kyiv Post reported on eyewitness accounts of the demonstrations that suggest that there might have been hundreds of protesters injured.[135] According to the Department of Health, by the end of the second day of clashes, 109 protesters were hospitalized with 165 injured in total.[33]
Telekrytyka, a media watchdog compiled a list of over 40 injured journalists and photographers, with many report said they were deliberately beaten by the riot police while displaying their journalist IDs.[126]New York Times, Ukrainska Pravda, and Agence France-Presse photographers were among at least 30 journalists injured in clashes with police. One journalist was hit with an explosive device during clashes with Berkut on Bankova Street,[126] and New York Times photographer Joseph Sywenkyj was injured when a piece of a sound grenade struck him in the face.[136] A photographer from The Insider notified police that he was a journalist, but was assaulted along with his cameraman anyway.[126]Euronews’ cameraman Roman Kupriyanov was also beaten by riot police.[137] Euronews reported (on 1 December) "He was one of several media personnel who claim to have been deliberately targeted by the riot police".[137] Dmytro Volkov, of 1+1 reported police were aiming at journalists’ equipment. Photographer Serhiy Supinskiy was attacked by a riot police officer on Bankova Street, he said. The officer deliberately hit his photography equipment, and destroyed his flash and lens.[126]
A 15 year old girl from Okhtyrka was presumed dead from the protests at the hands of Berkut troops, but was later found to be alive.[138]
December 2–December 7
Vitali Klitschko addresses the crowds at Independence Square, Kyiv, 19.27, 03.12.2013 - as shown live on screen overlooking the Square
The day after the riots, peaceful protests continued to take place and occupy Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kiev, with tens of thousands attending, while thousands blocked the main Cabinet buildings.[139] According to BBC correspondent David Stern "They have set up almost a military camp of sorts, and have erected a very impressive barricade around the perimeter of the demonstration".[140] David M. Herszenhorn of The New York Times described the square as "oddly festive" and added that "Protest leaders, sensing that momentum had turned to their advantage, continued to add infrastructure to their operation, bringing in television monitors and erecting the small tent city".[141] Elsewhere, Lviv, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk announced a general strike in solidarity with the movement.[142] 1,000 Internal Troops (National Guard) were deployed to Kiev around key government buildings by the Interior Ministry. The parliament committee on statehood and self-governance recommended a vote of no-confidence in Prime Minister Mykola Azarov's government, opening a way for such a vote on 3 December. The Kiev City Council building remained occupied by protesters.[143][nb 5] The people working at Kiev City Council were still being allowed to come in and do their usual jobs.[139][nb 6]
On 3 December the Azarov Government survived the vote of no-confidence with 186 MP's supporting the motion, and all but 1 Party of Regions MP abstaining from the vote; at least 226 votes were needed.[144] However; the Communist Party of Ukraine, that had not supported this vote, stated that on 4 December they would put forward their own no confidence motion, based on the government’s management of the economy.[145] If the 186 MP's supporting the 3 December motion support the 4 December no-confidence motion – which they have stated they will – the 4 December motion will pass with over 226 votes.[145] In his speech to parliament[nb 7], Azarov warned protesters occupying the Kiev City State Administration that force could be used to remove them.[147] In the morning of 3 December Euronews described the situation in Kiev as "calm at the moment, however tensions have remained high".[148] Clashes with riot police did occur outside of parliament.[149] In the afternoon, in freezing conditions, several thousand protesters rallied on Maidan Nezalezhnosti were opposition leaders gave passionate speeches.[150] After the speeches, the crowd moved to the Presidential Administration Building.[150] According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs over 10,000 demonstrators rallied on Maidan Nezalezhnosti in the evening of 3 December; it also noted that it had recorded no incidents.[151] Demonstrators started to pitch about 10 army tents (including a campfire) on the square, and about 10 on Khreshchatyk; while Ukrainian performers entertained the demonstrators.[152]Interfax-Ukraine reported that opposition leaders Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Oleh Tyahnybok and Vitali Klitschko met with foreign ambassadors that same evening.[152] The next day they met with German Foreign MinisterGuido Westerwelle in Kiev (including a walk on Maidan Nezalezhnosti).[153]
Protesters have scaled the Christmas tree on Maidan, decorating it with signs and flags
On 5 December 2013 the protest continued with several thousand demonstrators continuing to rally on Maidan Nezalezhnosti; an Interfax correspondent reported that "the situation on the square is calm" and that wooden barricades were installed on Instytytska and Horodetskoho Street.[154] An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported that police buses blocked several streets leading to the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) and that about 150 "people waving flags of Svoboda and the red-and-black flags of Ukrainian nationalists" were rallying in front of the central entrance to the Budynok Uryadu (the administrative building for the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine).[155] Meanwhile, several hundred supporters of the Party of Regions and President Yanukovych pitched a camp (encircled by a metal fence) on the square in Mariinsky park (in front of the main entrance to the Verkhovna Rada).[155] The OSCEsecurity group summit in Kiev advanced as planned.[156]
Viktoria Siumar, a prominent journalist and former head of Institute of Mass Information, reported that Secretary (head) of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Andriy Klyuyev, met with TV managers on 6 December urging them to limit Euromaidan coverage.[43] This took place concurrent to Prime Minister Azarov's critical statement of the media in the country, in which he stated there was a lack of coverage towards pro-government rallies, a "disproportionate bias in coverage," and that "everywhere is dominated by only one point of view, and it is a distortion of reality, away from democracy."[157][nb 8] The same day the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights within the OSCE Janez Lenarčič stated that the government's demand that protesters unblock governmental buildings was "lawful" and "fully consistent with the acceptable restrictions on the freedom of assembly".[160] However, he also stated that the 30 November court ban on demonstrations in central Kiev was "an unqualified ban on demonstrations, in other words on peaceful assemblies, which is disproportionate and in contradiction to Ukraine's OSCE commitments".[161] Jailed former Ukrainian Prime MinisterYulia Tymoshenko ended her hunger strike that she had started on 25 November in protest of "President Yanukovych's reluctance to sign the DCFTA" on 6 December.[95][162] The same day police and a court order blocked a planned protest at President Yanukovych's private residence Mezhyhirya.[163][164][165][166][167]
An unscheduled meeting between President Yanukovych and Russian PresidentVladimir Putin took place in the south Russian city of Sochi on 6 December 2013.[168] Ukrainian Foreign Affairs MinisterLeonid Kozhara stated the cooperative agreements signed in Sochi were primarily in the fields of in space, aircraft construction, and engineering.[169] Prime Minister Mykola Azarov elaborated on the matter, saying the two met to discuss the drafting of a strategic partnership agreement, eliminate disputes over trading and economic issues,[170] and in a separate announcement told journalists that the president would soon visit Moscow on 17 December,[171] where a "major agreement" would be signed.[43] This prompted opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk to issue a stern warning towards Yanukovych, saying "If Yanukovych tries to sign anything with Russia about the Customs Union it will lead to a bigger wave of protests."[168] Later, The Economist's senior editor Edward Lucas, citing his own diplomatic sources, reported on his Twitter that Yanukovych had allegedly signed a pact with Russia which included terms whereby Ukraine would receive $5 billion and a natural gas price reduction in exchange for an agreement to join their Customs Union at a later date.[43][172][173] Upon hearing the news, opposition leaders expressed fury,[171][174][175] and demanded that the alleged documents be made public immediately.[176] The governments of Russia and Ukraine categorically denied any Customs Union talks took place during the meetings,[171][177][178] however, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov did confirm (on 7 Decmber) that the two sides discussed financial aid and credit,[179] and were also now “significantly” closer in talks over natural gas prices.[180][nb 9] At the same time, Yatsenyuk claimed to have information that the planned 17 December Ukrainian-Russian strategic partnership agreement would involve Ukraine's joining of the Customs Union, but added that Ukraine's parliament would be unlikely to ratify it.[184]
8 December marked the third Sunday in a row of mass protest in Kiev.[177] Opposition leaders billed the day as the "March of a Million",[185] and all opposition parties claimed the turnout met the 1,000,000 mark.[43][186][187] According to Interfax-Ukraine, initial reports estimated the number "greatly exceed[s] 100,000 people,"[188] which matched police estimates.[189]Associated Press correspondents on the ground and leading world media reported that 500,000 attended.[185][190] The tent camp of the protesters continued (with field kitchens) to offer meals.[191] After the rally, a large group of Ukrainian protesters toppled the statue to Lenin in Kiev.[192] Unlike the previous week, police officers on the scene withdrew without attempting to defend the monument.[193] After the statue was taken down, the group shouted "Yanukovych, you'll be next!", and proceeded to smash the statue with a sledgehammer, decapitate it, and dismantle it for souvenirs;[194][195] in place of the statue was planted a Ukrainian and red-and-black insurgency flag.[193] The Svoboda party took credit for the statue's destruction, with several party MP's, including Ihor Miroshnichenko, joining the crowd and taking part in the act.[195][196]
Protesters travelling from Belarus who were en route to Kiev to support the protests were denied entry into the country at the border crossing near Chernihiv (where protests have been banned by the local police), while other reports saw traffic officers puncturing the tires of a bus carrying Belarusians.[197] The same day, Party of Regions MP Oleh Tsarev requested to the Security Service and Foreign Ministry of Ukraine to deport or/and ban foreign organizers and political consultants, document scans of which he posted (and later removed) on his Facebook account. Among those named in the document notably included Andreas Umland, Stanislav Belkovsky, Taras Kuzio, Gleb Pavlovsky, and former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, among others.[198]
File:Euromaidan in Kyiv early afternoon 2013-09-12 (101).JPGCartoons on a Maidan barricade, December 9
In the early morning of 9 December, some 730 Tiger and Leopard special forces, whose base of operations had previously been blocked by a motorcade of protesters in Vasylkiv (outside Kiev), broke through the cordone with support from Berkut troops to travel into the city.[199][200] The same day three metro stations in the center of the city – Teatralna, Khreschatyk and Maidan Nezalezhnosti were closed, and trains ran through them without stopping, after the Kiev police had received an anonymous bomb threat.[201] Teatralna station was reopened late afternoon after police completed a fruitless search for possible explosives.[201] In the afternoon the BBC reported that Ukrainian police had begun dismantling protest camps in front of government buildings in Kiev.[202] The protesters had been given until Tuesday (10 December) to leave.[202] They were blockaded with cars, barricades and tents.[202] According to the BBC, no clashes had been reported,[202] but its reporter in Kiev, Steve Rosenberg, described the situation as "tense with various rumours circulating" and that priest's were urging the police not to use force, while blessing them.[202] Meanwhile Interfax-Ukraine reported about more police movements and removal of protest barricades in Kiev.[203] The Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a statement that "MP's have informed us that spade handles and other objects that could be used to cause bodily injuries have been distributed to the protesters at the opposition's self-defense posts".[204] It also stated no action was being taken on Maidan Nezalezhnosti.[202] Opposition leader (of the Batkivshchyna party) Arseniy Yatsenyuk meanwhile complained about violence against demonstrators and stated "We do not beat policeman, we do not use force, we do not have any weapons and we do not have any special means".[205] Fellow opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko concerted with that.[202] Svoboda leader Oleh Tyahnybok warned that the government was planning to cut off electricity before an attack on the Euromaidan rallies in central Kiev "But we are preparing to use alternative ways to continue the existence of our camp".[206] He also warned that Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and police had arrived in Ukraine "With the aim of organizing mass disorder."[207]
A barricade blocks passage to the building of the Prosecutor General's Office on 9 December
The website of opposition party Batkivshchyna went offline on 9 December following a police raid on their headquarters.[202] At their office on Turivska Street in Podil, "In the corridor we have people with machine guns, trying to break through into server rooms," said Ostap Semerak, a Batkivshchyna member,[43] and that some troops climbed in through its windows.[208] It was described by witnesses that a special detachment of police in tactical gear destroyed all equipment in the offices, which also housed the newspaper INTV, Evening News and website Censor.Net.ua, who were raided in similar fashion shortly after[209] The server room was described as "a mess",[43] and the offices themselves were ransacked, and security cameras were destroyed.[210] An Associated Press reporter confirmed broken glass and smashed computers in the offices.[208] "The attackers did not introduce themselves or show any warrant,” Censor.net editor Yuri Butusov told Reporters Without Borders. “They ordered all our staff to move away from their computers and to not use their mobile phones. Then they confiscated all our equipment. It was a criminal raid designed to eliminate a site that has been carrying information about the ‘Euromaidan’ movement.”[211] A police spokeswoman initially denied police had conducted any operations at the address,[202] however, the Interior Ministry later admitted the attack on the Batkivshchyna office was sanctioned by a court order for "two criminal cases", pertaining to alleged "fraud and abuse of office".[43] The police said they received a tip from a 'group of citizens' that "illegally seized computer equipment worth Hr 350,000" was on the premises, and that officials from the company 'abused their authority'.[43] During the raid, computer equipment, database servers, and documents were confiscated as evidence.[43][211] Shorter after, UDAR evacuated their offices on Horky Street, which in a press release stated was in relation to the raid on Batkivshchyna.[212][213]
On December 10 at 1:00, the Ukrainian government cut off the power in the Kiev City State Administration used by protesters as a headquarters. It was reported that protesters feared agressive measures would be taken.[214] At the same time (1:00) public servants with their faces hidden and 100 riot police cleared the barricade at the cross section of the Hrushevskoho street and the Kriposnyj provulok in Kiev.[215]MPAndriy Shevchenko announced that police used their batons and kicked protesters.[216] Hours later, 200 police advanced on the barricades on Lyuteranska and Bankova Street, with hundreds of protesters holding their ground, including Wladimir Klitschko.[217] There, provocateurs penetrated into the ranks of the protesters, threatened with sticks, and used tear gas against the police, Hromadske.TV reported.[218] During the clash over the barricaded encampment, there were about 12 to 15 injuries reported, including among police.[219]
EU foreign policy and security High RepresentativeCatherine Ashton travelled to Ukraine on 10 and 11 December "to support a way out of the political crisis".[202] Accompanied by a small delegation, she met governmental officials, opposition figures and representatives of civil society.[220] President Yanukovych also had a roundtable meeting with all three former president's Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma, and Viktor Yushchenko. Following the meeting, terms were set for the release of Euromaidan detainees, the implementation of future EU-related reforms, and Kuchma eluded to the possible dismissal of Prime Minister Azarov.[221]
A 24 November protest in Ivano-Frankivsk saw several thousand protestors gather at the regional administration building.[246] No classes were held in the universities of western Ukrainian cities such as Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Uzhhorod.[247] Protests also took place in other large Ukrainian cities: Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Luhansk, Lviv, and Uzhhorod. The rally in Lviv in support of the integration of Ukraine into the EU was initiated by the students of local universities. This rally saw 25–30 thousand protesters gather on Prospect Svobody (Freedom Avenue) in Lviv. The organizers planned to continue this rally 'till the 3rd Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 28–29 November 2013.[248] A rally in Simferopol, which drew around 300, saw nationalists and Crimean Tatars unite to support European integration; the protesters sang both the Ukrainian national anthem and the anthem of the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen.[249]
7 people were injured after 40 titushky (thugs) attacked a tent encampment in Dnipropetrovsk, which was ordered cleared by court order on 25 November.[250][251] Officials estimated the number of attackers to be 10-15,[252] and police did not intervene in the attacks.[253] Similarly, police in Odessa ignored calls to stop the demolition of Euromaidan camps in the city by a group of 30, and instead removed all parties from the premises.[254] 50 police officers and men in plain clothes also drove out a Euromaidan protest in Chernihiv the same day.[255]
On 25 November, in Odessa, 120 police raided and destroyed a tent encampment made by protesters at 5:20 in the morning. The police detained three of the protesters, including the leader of the Odessa branch of Democratic Alliance, Alexei Chorny. All three were beaten in the police vehicle and then taken to the Portofrankovsk Police Station without their arrival being recorded. The move came after the District Administrative Court hours earlier issued a ban restricting citizens’ right to peaceful assembly until New Year. The court ruling places a blanket ban on all demonstrations, the use of tents, sound equipment and vehicles until the end of the year.[256]
On 26 November, a rally of 50 was held in Donetsk.[257]
On 28 November, a rally was held in Yalta; university faculty who attended were pressured to resign by university officials.[258]
On 29 November, Lviv protesters numbered some 20,000.[97] Like in Kiev, they locked hands in a human chain, symbolically linking Ukraine to the European Union (organisers claimed that some 100 people even crossed the Ukrainian-Polish border to extend the chain to the European Union).[97][98]
The largest pro-European Union protests outside Kiev have taken place at theTaras Shevchenko monument in LvivPro-European Union protests in Luhansk
On 1 December, the largest rally outside of Kiev took place in Lviv by the statue of Taras Shevchenko, where over 50,000 protesters attended. Mayor Andriy Sadovy, council chairman Peter Kolody, and prominent public figures and politicians were in attendance.[24] An estimated 300 rallied in the eastern city of Donetsk demanding that President Viktor Yanukovych and the government of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resign.[243] Meanwhile, in Kharkiv, thousands rallied with writer Serhiy Zhadan, during a speech, calling for revolution. The protest was peaceful.[259][260][261] Protesters claimed at least 4,000 attended,[26] with other sources saying 2,000.[25] In Dnipropetrovsk, 1,000 gathered to protest the EU agreement suspension, show solidarity with those in Kiev, and demand the resignation of local and metropolitan officials. They later marched, shouting "Ukraine is Europe" and "Revolution".[27] EuroMaidan protests were also held in Simferopol (where 150-200 attended),[262] and Odessa.[263]
On 2 December, in an act of solidarity, Lviv Oblast declared a general strike in order to mobilize support for protests in Kiev,[264] which was followed by the formal order of a general strike by the cities of Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk.[142]
In Dnipropetrovsk on 3 December, a group of 300 protested in favor of European integration and demanded the resignation of local authorities, heads of local police units, and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).[265]
On 7 December it was reported that police were prohibiting those from Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk from driving to Kiev.[266]
On 9 December, a statue to Vladimir Lenin was destroyed in in the town of Kotovsk in Odessa Oblast.[267] In Ternopil, Euromaidan organizers were prosecuted by authorities.[268]
In Vienna, hundreds came with banners to support the rapprochement between Ukraine and the EU. In London, the gathered Ukrainian community chanted the slogan "Ukraine to Europe".[269]
In Sofia, Ukrainians in Bulgaria and Bulgarian citizens have called a rally for 27 November in support of pro-EU protesters in Ukraine. Bulgarian organizers have suggested a bond between Ukrainian protesters and anti-government protesters in Bulgaria, who have been calling for the resignation of left-wing PM Plamen Oresharski since mid-June. According to them, both nations must unite against "ever-hungry oligarchs who forcibly push us towards Russia."[287]
On 29 of November 2013, on the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Medyka, Poles and Ukrainians created a human chain as a symbol of a solidarity between the two nations, and as a sign of support for pro-EU protesters in Ukraine.[98]
In Armenia on 2 December hundreds of people marched through the capital Yerevan to denounce a visit of Russian PresidentVladimir Putin and to express their solidarity with the pro-European rallies in Ukraine.[305][nb 10] Local media reported that 100 participants were arrested by police.[305]
On 29 November, a formal from organizers resolution proposed the following:[43]
Form a coordinating committee to communicate with the European community.
To state that the president, parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers aren't capable of carrying out a geopolitically strategic course of development for the state and calls on Yanukovych's resignation.
Demand the cessation of political repressions against EuroMaidan activists, students, civic activists and opposition leaders.
On 5 December Batkivshchyna faction leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk stated "Our three demands to the Verkhovna Rada and the president remained unchanged: the resignation of the government, the release of all political prisoners, first and foremost, [former Ukrainian Prime Minister] Yulia Tymoshenko, and nine individuals who were illegally convicted [who were present at a rally on Bankova Street on December 1] and the suspension of all criminal cases, and the arrest of all Berkut officers who were involved in the illegal beating up of children on Maidan Nezalezhnosti".[314] The opposition also demanded that the government resumed negotiations with the IMF for a loan that they saw as key to helping Ukraine "through economic troubles that have made Yanukovych lean toward Russia".[315]
Responses
Government response
President
President of UkraineViktor Yanukovych called for calm in a 25 November televised interview, after skirmishes between riot police (who had fired tear gas at protesters) and demonstrators who had hurled traffic cones and rocks at security forces.[96][316] On 27 November Yanukovych stated "I applaud those who came out into the streets in support of European integration but there are also those who turned up to solve their political problems, who had flags and slogans which they will use for the 2015 presidential elections. I could see that very clearly".[317]
In his address to the Ukrainian people President Yanukovych stated that he is deeply outraged by those events that took place at night at the Independence Square on 30 November.[318] "I condemn the actions that led to violent confrontation and suffering of people.[318] I demand from the General Prosecutor urgently provide me and the Ukrainian society with results of immediate and impartial investigation for appropriate punishment", stated Yanukovych.[318]
In a 2 December 2013 President of the European CommissionJosé Manuel Barroso and President Yanukovych agreed that "a peaceful and political solution is the only way for Ukraine out of the current situation", and according to the EU Yanukovych "explicitly confirmed the intention to investigate into the use of force by the Ukrainian police and to inform the public about the results".[319] In an interview with journalists from four TV channels he called on government and opposition to unite in investigating and identify what he called “provocateurs" "hiding behind children” and he stated “As for the people who came out to the rallies, any show of public will is always confirmed by everybody’s freedom and right to speak their mind. It doesn’t matter if it is the representatives of the government, law enforcement agencies or the participants of the rallies – all must respect the law”.[320] “I am convinced that a bad peace is better than a good war,” was also added.[320]
Prime Minister
Prime Minister Mykola Azarov contrasted the EuroMaidan protests to those of the Orange Revolution of 2004, stating his government "[knows] that such events are financed, for example. If this is carried out within a legal framework, fine," he told Russian television on 24 November. "If all this is carried out in violation of the law, then, of course, the government will not act like it did in 2004, when the technology of overthrowing the lawful government was being worked out quite simply before our very eyes. In this case, we won't fool around."[321] In a 26 November interview with Euronews, Azarov stated he was "not surprised" by the demonstrations "It was our government who drafted the agreement, and we were constantly explaining to our people why we were doing it. So it's quite natural that when we made our announcement a significant number of people took to the streets demanding that the process of European integration be continued. This active involvement of our people proves again that, in general, our policies on EU integration were correct".[322]
On his Facebook page commenting on the events of November 30, he stated that he is deeply outraged and worried what happened at night at the Independence Square.[323] "Those details from various sides that I have at the moment, do not allow a clear conclusion: Who is responsible for this provocation", Azarov said.[323] On December 1, Azarov claimed that the protesters were ignorant to the economics behind the decision to pull out of the EU Association Agreement, and that they were 'governed by myths and emotions'.[324] The next day Azarov refereed to the protests as resembling an coup d'état.[325] On 3 December Prime Minister Mykola Azarov assured parliament that neither he nor President Viktor Yanukovych ordered the dispersal of the rally.[326] At the 5 December opening of the OSCEsecurity group summit in Kiev, Azarov dismissed the protests in Ukraine as usual, just like in any European country, and described the situation as a temporary inconvenience that will soon be overcome.[156] On December 6, Azarov stated: "...I have signals that people are not able to go home. For instance, they were brought to Kyiv and have no money to return home. We are ready to allocate some money and help everyone who wishes go home..."[327]
Ministers
On 26 November, Education Minister Dmytro Tabachnyk addressed Ukraine's students saying "When 'hot heads' push you towards illegal actions, I hope you find the strength and courage not to succumb to provocations. Don't violate public order. Remember your parents and loved ones who always worry about you. Be careful and vigilant! Take care of yourself! You have a great life ahead of you and you need to choose its direction and movement...”
At interview to the ICTV channel on 30 November the first deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov said that Ukrainians should calm down and figure out what really happened during the forceful disperse of a peaceful protest at "Maidan".[328] Arbuzov down played on 7 December the deferment of the EU Association Agreement "Nothing more terrible has happened than that we didn't sign it on the 29th [of November]. So what? We'll sign it on the 29th of the next month, we'll sign it in a month or two".[329]
On 3 December Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov assured parliament "I will draw conclusions from what has happened [the dispersal of the pro-EU rally on November 30]. Resolute government reshuffling is coming".[326]
Political resignations
Following the 30 November violent crackdown on protesters, Serhiy Lyovochkin, Chief of Staff of the Yanukovych administration, resigned from his position within hours of the event. But President Yanukovych turned down his application for resignation and Levochkin continued his tasks.[330]
Ukrainian parliamentarian David Zhvania stated 2 December that the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) would force the second Azarov Government to resign the next day.[344] The same day Chairman of the Verkhovna RadaVolodymyr Rybak confirmed that this vote would be held on 2 December and that he was "am planning to invite the leaders of all political parties... They should not only raise questions, but also to find ways to resolve these issues".[345] Eventually on 3 December the Azarov Government survived the vote of no-confidence easily with 186 MP's supporting the motion when at least 226 votes were needed.[144] However the Communist Party of Ukraine that had not supported this vote stated that on 4 December they would put forward their own no confidence motion, based on the government’s management of the economy.[145] If the 186 MP's supporting the 3 December motion support the 4 December no-confidence motion – which they have stated they will – the 4 December motion will pass with over 226 votes.[145] However the parliamentary meeting of 4 December was cut short and adjourned "in connection with the impossibility for further conducting the meeting".[346]
On 7 December opposition parties Batkivshchyna, UDAR and Svoboda put forward 3 demands that the government would have to satisfy if it were to hold talks with them: the release of all "political prisoners" detained on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, punishing all those guilty of violently dispersing [a demonstration on] the square, and the dismissal of the second Azarov Government.[348] The same day the Party of Regions had released a statement in which it complained of an destructive attitude by the opposition and threatening behaviour by "extremists" among the protestators while "We have stretched out our hand to the opposition".[349]
On 2 December 2013, the Kiev City Council condemned the police crackdown and riots of 30 November - 1 December.[351]
Party of Regions politicians
Party of Regions politician Serhiy Tihipko stated that "The people who gave the order [to attack protesters], and it is especially those who committed the attacks, will inevitably have to answer for it under the law".[352]
Viktor Viktorovych Yanukovych, MP and son of the president, reacted to the November 30 police crackdown by calling the events a “provocation” and blamed activists for the scuffles. On his Facebook page on December 1, he stated "The activists who possibly stayed there behaved not at all peacefully in relation to law enforcement officers, I feel sorry for the victims. There is no other word but to call it a provocation." Following his statements, the two members of his press service publicly quit.[343]
MP Vadim Kolesnichenko in an interview stated "Criminals should be in jail, but the organizers of this criminal coup should sit at the negotiating table, because they are personally responsible for all of the injuries and property damage that occurred in the capital and Ukraine" and said that those attacking police officers should be prosecuted.[353]
Party member and Sevastopol City Council Deputy Sergei Smolyanynov called for Russian military intervention.[354] His statements were denounced by the party.[355]
Other Ukrainian political response
After the 30 November police actions against demonstrators Ternopil Mayor Serhiy Nadal, stating he was outraged at this "crackdown", called all citizens to travel to Kiev and join the protests on 1 December.[356] On 2 December he, he head of the Lviv Regional Council Petro Kolody and the Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk Viktor Anushkevychus declared an indefinite strike.[357]
Opposition leader Oleh Tyahnybok called in an official 2 December press release for police officers and members of the military to defect to 'the Ukrainian revolution'.[358]
All three former Ukrainian presidents, Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma, and Viktor Yushchenko released a joint statement on 4 December expressing their solidarity with the peaceful civil actions of the protesters, and questioned the abrupt about-face the government took with regard to signing the European Association Agreement in Vilnius. Further, they stated that "the cruelty with which the [Berkut] police acted should not only be publicly condemned, but also punished according to Ukrainian legislation, as it is totally unacceptable in a democratic country." [361]
First Ukrainian President Kravchuk proposed on 9 December a meeting, to discuss "important issues facing Ukraine", of the four Ukrainian presidents (Kravchuk, Kuchma, Yuschenko and incumbent President Viktor Yanukovych) to take place on 10 December.[362] On 9 December (current) President Yanukovych stated he would discuss the crisis with the above mentioned three former presidents on 10 December to try to find a compromise.[202]
Parliament of Crimea
On 9 December, the Supreme Council of Crimea (parliament of Crimea) issued a statement condemning the Euromaidan protests, and called for the government to restore order in Kiev. The statement accused European officials of trying to "force" Ukraine into Europe, "ignoring the will of the majority". "We assure you that we will not give Crimea to the mercy of rabid European integration from neo-Nazis and Russophobes" - said the Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea.[363]
Ukraine's representative to the UN
Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Yuriy Serheyev called the 30 November violent actions of the Ukrainian police "an encroachment on the constitutional rights of citizens and international law" while delivering a speech at a Euromaidan meeting in New York on 2 December.[364]
Police response
On the evening of 25 November, demonstrators, including several members of parliament, overtook a white van which they believed Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) officers were using to eavesdrop on protest leaders' cellphones. Once overtaken, hundreds of riot police descended on the scene, triggering violence clashes during a 30-minute standoff. Demonstrators seized the belongings of the van, which included several license plates, a passport, and electronic equipment used for spying, photos of which were posted online. Kiev's Interior Ministry claimed they were recovering the van because they believed it contained an explosive device, whereas the SBU said the van was used to monitor for explosives, as well as scan for radio channels that could be used to set off a bomb in the crowd. The state intelligence agency asked the General Prosecutor's Office to open a criminal investigation and to punish the perpetrators, whereas opposition leaders countered by accusing authorities of illegal eavesdropping.[365]
In the early morning of 30 November, at 4am 2,000 armed Berkut police forcefully broke up the ongoing rally on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, beating protesters with truncheons and employing tear gas at over 1,000[104] who remained overnight. Protesters, including women, children,[366] and passersby, were targeted indiscriminately and numerous injuries and detainees were reported.[106] The reports were corroborated by the Associated Press,[367]Kyiv Post,[106]Ukrayinska Pravda,[368] and Ukraine's Channel 5.[369]Reuters news agency said the injured included one of its cameramen and a photographer, who was left bleeding.[104] A Danish journalist captured video of police beating and kicking defenseless men in the head; upon realizing they were being filmed, the Berkut troops attacked the journalist. "They beat me in the head and made several attempts at trying to grab my phone out of my hand,” Andersen said.[370] Riot police were seen intentionally carrying out blows directly to the heads of protesters, which was captured in a number of videos and photos.[371][372] About a criminal origin of that fact was also mentioned on the Ukrainian political show Shuster Live (December 6, 2013) by the Major General of Justice in reserves Viktor Chumak whose specialization is in a disciplinary responsibility of uniform services personnel.
Authorities told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that the decision to break up the protests came after "a number of incidents and clashes" between pro-EU supporters and the police.[100] Police spokeswoman Olha Bilyk justified the police raid by saying that protesters were interfering with preparations to decorate the square for the Christmas and New Year's holidays.[106] Maidan 2.0, a civic organization, reported that the police units who broke up demonstrations were brought into Kiev from Perevalne and Kizil-Tashi in Crimea because the authorities were afraid that the Kiev units would not attack their own citizens.[373]Oleh Tiahnybok, leader of Svoboda, also reported that some units were bused in from Luhansk,[373] and Yuri Lutsenko stated the troops were from both Luhansk and Dnipropetrovsk.[374] The police denied bussing in any special units from Crimea.[373]
The chief of Kiev City militia (police) Valery Koryak expressed regret over what happened on Saturday night at the Independence Square and stated that he was ready to resign.[375] The Lieutenant General of Militia, Hennadiy Moskal, stated that Koryak is covering up for Vitaliy Zakharchenko, Minister of Internal Affairs, by taking responsibility for the Berkut actions,[376] while some political analysts regard the raid to have been authorized by Viktor Medvedchuk.[377] The authorities claimed that the Berkut's pogrom was conducted on petition of the city's community services in order to install the city's Christmas Tree.[378][379] On November 30, 2013, Valeriy Koryak concurred at a press conference that it was him who issued a personal order to use the Berkut special assignment unit against people at the Independence Square.[379]
On 1 December Koryak tendered his resignation.[380] However, his resignation was not approved, yet he was temporarily relieved of his duties for an internal investigation. On 5 December Minister of Internal Affairs Zakharchenko stated he had no intention of resigning.[309]
The city's community services claimed that they have no relations to any operations at the square or any petitions to law enforcement agencies.[381]
On December 4, 2013 Minister of Internal Affairs Zakharchenko ordered law enforcement authorities to refrain from using force on participants of peaceful rallies and warned rally organizers on the responsibility for the safety of participants.[382]
Security Service response
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is investigating an unspecified number of unnamed politicians for “attempting to seize state power,” its official website states. The statement said that a pre-trial investigation was opened on suspicion of “forceful seizure of power.” The interior ministry specifically named Batkivshchyna lawmaker Serhiy Pashinsky as one among several Batkivshchyna lawmakers that have called on people to storm state government buildings.[383]
A group of prototypical titushky by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Kiev
The Kyiv Post reported the presence of titushky, or hired thugs, with video showing them numbered in the hundreds on 29 November.[43] On that same day a journalist of 5 Kanal and Hromadske.TV stated they were attacked by "athletically built men in plainclothes believed to be hired thugs" in Mariinsky park, while "police were nowhere in sight". The attacks occurred during filming. The thugs broke the reporter's camera and stole his flash memory card.[43][387] Lyubchych said that one of the titushkas even warned policeman at the scene that they would be fired soon.[43] President Yanukovych denies the use of "thugs who enforce the government's will on the street"-tactics.[99] Singer and protest leader Ruslana suggested that paid provocateurs who were present have instigated fights in the protests.[43]
On 1 December, opposition leader Petro Poroshenko stated there were hired provocateurs outside the presidential building. "I am stating that there are 1,500 hired thugs (outside the president's administration), they are armed and are located there for provocations."[43]
In Dnipropetrovsk, 3 athletic men assaulted 4 people at a bus stop, including a District Council Deputy and an assistant to MP Leonid Serhiyenko; the 4 claim the attackers were titushky.[389]
A day after announcing her resignation from the Party of Regions, MP Inna Bohoslovska claimed she had information from a witness that the government was paying football ultrasUAH₴250 to participate in the provocations. She claimed this was financed by Viktor Medvedchuk and Russia. She also recalled that a year ago she spoke with government officials, who spoke of the need to use football fans for such a cause.[390]
On 6 December, 2 men were detained by Euromaidan self-defense units in Kiev, who were carrying concealed gas pistols. The men were described as appearing as fitting the typical titushky profile.[391] The same day MP of her party BatkivshchynaAndriy Kozhemiakin claimed to have information on preparations for faking jailed former Ukrainian Prime MinisterYulia Tymoshenko's abduction from Central Clinical Hospital No. 5 in Kharkiv to discredit the opposition.[333][359][392] On 8 December Batkivshchyna claimed to have information regarding "authorities plans to provoke clashes in Kiev with the involvement of about a thousand young people with a sports background in order to find a reason to announce a state of emergency; this may happen as soon as today".[393]
On December 9, 2013, the Main Administration of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Kiev acknowledged the fact that the detained by protesters a person is an agent of the State Security Administration (UDO).[394] Previously, militia denied any connections of the detained with UDO.[394]
Counter events
Pro-government rallies
November rallies
A pro-government counter protest reportedly gathered 10,000 people on 25 November.[395] The Party of Regions allegedly paid UAH₴100 to its supporters to participate in a three-hour rally, with supporters calling for "building Europe in Ukraine [...] but on terms and conditions favorable for Ukraine".[396] According to the Kyiv Post, demonstrators held anti-EU and homophobic banners.[21] On 29 November a 2-hour 3,000 people strong pro-government rally took place on European Square.[43][397] Party of Regions member of parliament Vladyslav Lukianov told the crowd "I'm sure that our movement to Europe will never change. We support this choice. Let the land shatter from our steps. Together we will win".[43][97] The Kyiv Post again reported incentives were given to attend and described attendants in appearance "to be homeless; still more look drunk. The crowd consists mostly of men."[43]Euronews spoke of many being "bussed in from the east of the country where pro-Russian sentiment is strong. They, too, carried national flags as well as those of the ruling Party of Regions."[71] Many in the crowed refused to talk to Euronews.[99]
On 30 November, several thousand protesters had been brought into Kharkiv on buses to stage a rally to support the government on Freedom Square. Some 170 buses were reported on the scene, and the number of attendees was according to organizers allegedly over 70,000;[398] news agencies reported the size of the crowd to be 40,000.[28] The event lasted only 1 hour.[28] Reports indicated attendees were paid UAH₴50 to attend,[399] and reports indicated that many were public sector workers who did not attend on their own accord.[398] The rally was both pro-administration and pro-European Integration.[398]
A rally in support of President Yanukovych held by the Donetsk Regional State Administration and the Party of Regions was to be held in Donetsk on 2 December, but was cancelled due to failure to organize enough people.[400]
On 3 December, 1,000 attended a rally in Kiev put on by the Party of Regions to support the president.[401] The same day, it was reported by journalists of Espreso.tv that a Party of Regions organized rally in Kiev was paying UAH₴200 to participants via online job postings.[402]
On 4 December, 15,000 rallied in in Donetsk in support of the president, many of whom were bussed in.[29] The Party of Regions denied any allegations of forcing anyone to attend.[403]
Permanent pro-authorities rally in Kiev
A rally and tent camp action in support of President Viktor Yanukovych and at initiative of the Party of Regions began on 3 December in Mariinsky park located close by the Verkhovna Rada building (the parliament).[155][404] The Party of Regions's press service reported on Sunday 6 December that over 15,000 people were taking part in a pro-government rally there.[404] According to city police, there were some 3,000 people in the park the day before.,[404] and the press estimated them at 2,000.[405] Police heavily guards this event from not only anti-government protesters,[52] but also from any journalists and on-lookers.
According to various media reports, people attending the pro-government Mariinsky Park event were hired or obliged to attend, and forced to stay for a pre-determinted time.In one incident on 8 December, dozens of attendees broke police barriers and escaped downhill to the Dnieper river, being chased by "masked men in black armed with automatic rifles".[405][better source needed]
"Anti-maidans"
The Communist Party of Ukraine planned to gather 2,000 supporters to a 24 November 2013 rally against signing agreements with the European Union.[406] Communists that did attend, set up tents near the statue to Lenin in Kyiv, intending to protect it from vandalism.[407]
On 25 November in Sevastopol the Russian Bloc and the Communist Party of Ukraine organized an "Anti-Maidan".[408] The meeting was conducted in support of joining the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia.[408] Previous rallies by the Russian Bloc in the weeks prior included EU flag burning and anti-government, and anti-Ukrainian rhetoric,[409][nb 14] On the 26th, another anti-Maidan protest was organized in Donetsk, attracting only 30 student protesters. Organizers stated that the European Union had ruined the economies of new members, and that joining would bring corruption and gay marriage.[257] The protest was counter to the pro-EU EuroMaidan protest 200 meters away, which attracted no more than 50 protesters. On the 27th, a small anti-Maidan rally was held by the Russian Bloc and Communists in Mykolaiv.[411] At a November 25 rally in Luhansk, protesters were met with resistance from a group of Don Cossacks, who were against EU membership and referred to pro-EU protesters as fascists.[412]
A 1 December Communist rally in Donetsk gathered about 200 mostly elderly supporters who chanted: "The union of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus is inevitable".[413] The following day, Communist Party of Ukraine MP Antonina Khromova made statements at the Donetsk regional council, approving the use of force to remove protesters in Kiev, which was met with applause. She continued by saying that Ukraine does not need European values, namely, "same-sex marriage" and "African pan handlers".[414]
The Sevastopol city council, on the initiative of the Russian Bloc, opted to appeal to the President and the Government of Ukraine to reorient foreign policy towards Russia and its Customs Union.[415] The Russian Bloc has also demanded the resignation of Minister of Education Dmytro Tabachnyk, for not preventing students from taking part in the Euromaidan protests.[416] On 8 December, the Russian Community of Sevastopol organization held a rally in support of Berkut anti-riot troops who made headlines for assaulting students and journalists in Kiev the week prior. Leader of the group, Tatiana Ermakova, expressed outrage at the fact that, according to her, protesters provoked and attacked Berkut troops. "No country in the world would allow such lawlessness which, the for the 17th day occurs on the Maidan," she said.[417]
Online media attacks by hackers
On 2 December 2013 Ukrayinska Pravda reported that its website and that of other Ukrainian internet news sources "underwent a massive attack by hackers".[418] It also report that its website "had been subjected to a powerful attack" on 24 November.
[418] The websites of opposition party Svoboda went offline on 9 December.[202] in what appeared to be a DDoS attack. At around the same time, the Kyiv Post also went down without explanation and suffered slowness, but was later restored but not without issues.[419]
International reactions
Supranational organizations
European Union — Enlargement CommissionerŠtefan Füle stated on 26 November 2013 "I am happy that democracy in Ukraine has reached the moment where the people are free to assemble and express their opinion, particular on the issue which is so relevant for their own future, the future of Ukraine".[420]Members of the European Parliament responsible for the Eastern Partnership policy Elmar Brok and Jacek Saryusz-Wolski warned Ukraine on 26 November not to use force against pro-Europe protestors "Otherwise, there will be serious consequences".[421]
On 30 November Štefan Füle and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton released a joint statement condemning "the excessive use of force last night by the police in Kyiv to disperse peaceful protesters, who over the last days in a strong and unprecedented manner have expressed their support for Ukraine's political association and economic integration with the EU."[422]
President of the European Parliament published a tweet on 9 December that stated "I hope Yanukovych ends his own version of the winter games and starts listening to the legitimate voices coming from Maidan".[424]
UN — Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated on 3 December “I appeal to all parties to act with restraint, avoid any further violence and to uphold the democratic principles of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly”.[425]
NATO — When asked about "pressure put on Ukraine" the Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen stated on 28 November "If anyone puts pressure on Ukraine in order to prevent Ukraine from deciding freely on Ukraine's affiliation, its alliances, then this will be in contradiction with the principles to which we all subscribed many years ago, in 1999, when an OSCE document was signed under which each individual country has the right to decide for itself. We're sticking to that principle, and we do hope that all of the other countries that signed that document do the same".[426] Rasmussen stated on 3 December "I strongly condemn the excessive use of police forces we have witnessed in Kyiv. I would expect all NATO partners, including Ukraine, to live up to fundamental democratic principles including freedom of assembly and freedom of expression".[427]
On 3 December a meeting of the foreign ministers of NATO member states issued a statement condemning "the use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators in Ukraine" and requested that "all parties [...] refrain from provocations and violence." The assembled ministers "urge Ukraine, as the holder of the Chairmanship in Office of the OSCE, to fully abide by its international commitments and to uphold the freedom of expression and assembly. We urge the government and the opposition to engage in dialogue and launch a reform process." Furthermore, "Our [NATO–Ukraine] partnership will continue on the basis of the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law."[428]
OSCE — OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović stated on 2 December her concern of the amount of violence used against the media during the demonstrations.[429]
Bulgaria – President Rosen Plevneliev advised Ukrainian politicians to "listen to the voice of the people," referring to large protests against the decision in Ukraine.[430]
Canada – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird made an official statement on 30 November, “Canada strongly condemns the deplorable use of violence today by Ukrainian authorities against peaceful protesters in Independence Square. These demonstrators simply want a closer association with the European Union. Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are fundamental tenets of any truly democratic country. We call upon the Government of Ukraine to respect and indeed protect the rights of its citizens to express their opinions freely, consistent with Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe principles. Canada stands with the people of Ukraine to build a society based on freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”[431]
On 4 December, Foreign Minister Baird met with "opposition officials and civil society representatives" while in Kiev for the OSCE security group summit and stated the Canadian government is "engaged here because Ukraine matters, because Canada believes in the values of the Ukrainian people and we want to do all we can to support them in their aspirations. [...] We believe the decision represents a significant lost opportunity in Ukraine's path towards strengthened democratic development and economic prosperity", concluding that Canada is "committed to work with the people of Ukraine in its democratic development and that's a long-term commitment."[432] Baird also reaffirmed that the Canadian government will send "two dozen" election observers to the 15 December repeat elections to the Verkhovna Rada.[432] On 5 December, before leaving Kiev, John Baird visited the Euromaidan protests in Maidan Nezalezhnosti.[433]
Germany — Chancellor Angela Merkel commented on 27 November "The EU and Germany have to talk to Russia. The Cold War is over".[434] At the 28–29 November 2013 EU summit (where originally it was planned that the Association Agreement would be signed on 29 November 2013[60]) Merkel remarked to President Yanukovych “We see you here, but we expected more".[435] Foreign minister Guido Westerwelle stated on 2 December the huge rallies showed "the heart of Ukrainian people beats in a European way".[380]
Hungary – On 5 December, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Zsolt Németh told "all violence, and especially violence committed by state authorities, is unacceptable." He insisted that the commitment of the government and opposition of Ukraine to European integration is unquestionable. "No country has the right to intervene in the internal affairs of another nation and influence its orientation," he said.[436]
Latvia – Foreign Affairs Minister Edgars Rinkevicstweeted: "Disturbing news from Ukraine, I condemn police violence against proeuropean demonstration in Kyiv."[437]
Poland – Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that "President Yanukovych is miscalculating badly as regards the Association Agreement with EU and towards the people of Ukraine."[437]
Russia — On 22 November 2013, President Vladimir Putin accused the EU of blackmailing Ukraine to sign the Association Agreement, "including promoting the holding of mass protests".[90] Following the police crackdown and riots on 30 November - 1 December Putin stated, "The events in Ukraine seem more like a pogrom than a revolution"; he also believed "It has little to do with Ukraine's relations with the European Union".[438][439] Putin further blamed "outside actors" for the protests, which he saw as an attempt to unsettle Ukraine's "legitimate" rulers.[140] On Russia Today Putin stated "Ukrainian opposition either not in control of situation or serves as cover-up for extremist activities".[440] Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on 5 December "other nations should not interfere in Ukraine’s political turmoil".[156] The State Duma adopted a resolution, saying "Unauthorized meetings, the siege of agencies of state power, seizures of administrative buildings, rampages, and destruction of the monuments of history lead up to a destabilization in the country and are fraught with ominous economic and political consequences for the people of Ukraine. Overt interference of foreign officials in the affairs of the sovereign Ukraine that stands at variance with any international norms causes particular concern. Some Western politicians who address oppositionist meetings make explicit calls for revolting against the decisions passed by the legitimately elected authorities of the country. They thus make a destructive contribution to the deterioration of the political situation".[441]
Sweden – Swedish ambassador to Ukraine, Andreas von Beckerath, wrote on Twitter, “Very disturbing reports on police brutality at Maidan. Violence against peaceful demonstrators [is] unacceptable and opposite of EU-integration.”[437] Sweden's Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Bildt tweeted that the "Repression against pro-EU manifestations in Kiev [is] deeply worrying."[442]
United Kingdom — David Lidington, the Minister of State for Europe, issued a statement on 30 November saying he "was very concerned to hear reports of police violence being used to break up a peaceful demonstration in Kyiv in the early hours of this morning. I am aware that further demonstrations are planned this weekend. I urge the Ukrainian authorities to respect the right of peaceful protest and to investigate thoroughly why police violence was used today."[443]
United States — Secretary of State John Kerry stated on 28 November, the first day of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, "Average citizens of each member country – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Ukraine and Georgia – play a prominent role in the continuing integration with the international community and this is very important".[444] After attacks on journalist on 29 November U.S. Ambassador to UkraineGeoffrey R. Pyatttweeted "We strongly support the right to freedom of speech, press and assembly, and condemn today's attack on Ukrainian journalists,"[43][387][445] and on Voice of America radio, warned about serious consequences for the use of force by the government against protesters in support for Ukraine's European integration in Kyiv.[446] On 2 December White House Press SecretaryJay Carney said that the White House did not consider those demonstrations in Ukraine to be coup attempts,[140] and stated “the violence by government authorities against peaceful demonstrators in Kiev on Saturday [30 November] morning was unacceptable”.[320] On 3 December he added “Violence and intimidation should have no place in today’s Ukraine. We continue to support the aspirations of the Ukrainian people to achieve a prosperous European democracy. European integration is the surest course to economic growth and to strengthening Ukraine’s democracy”.[425]
Non-governmental organisations
Amnesty International – Researcher on Ukraine, Heather McGill, stated that the 30 November police actions against demonstrators was "a shameful disregard for peoples right to peacefully protest. In choosing to violently disperse the demonstration early this morning the Ukrainian authorities are violating the very standards and values towards which they claim to be aspiring."[447] On 6 December the organization started a global action to ensure fair trial for (during Euromaidan) detained Ukrainian protesters.[448]
Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain – Called for "a protest condemning the decision of the Ukrainian government to halt the EU integration process" to be held near the Houses of Parliament in London on 23 November at noon; also called for protestors to confront the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom after an official ceremony commemorating the Holodomor later that afternoon at London's Ukrainian Orthodox Church.[449]
Reporters Without Borders – "Reporters Without Borders is appalled by the scale of the violence against journalists during the pro-European demonstrations in Kiev [...] The frequency and gravity of the attacks on journalists indicate a deliberate desire to crush freedom of information [...]".[450]
Transparency International – "If you look at what is happening in Ukraine these days. They just don't want to accept what the government does. They want to take this European vector of development also because in doing so, they would become more transparent and the corruption would become much, much less in the country."[451]
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America – Issued a statement that "denounces the brutal barbaric attack on the peaceful demonstrators", and stated "We call upon the US government and its EU allies to immediately reiterate their support for the Ukrainian people and their aspirations to join the European community of democracies. We further call on immediate economic sanctions which will include freezing of assets and visa restrictions for Yanukovych and his government."[452]
Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Also issued a statement denouncing the violence used by authorities on protesters, and stated "We ask all western governments to immediately impose targeted, economic sanctions against those individuals responsible for these human rights abuses in Ukraine, including the freezing of assets and restrictions on visas."[294]
Religious leaders
Ukrainian Orthodox Church - “Our church is together with the people,” the Kyivan Patriarchate’s 84-year-old leader, Patriarch Filaret, said in an interview. “It supports Ukraine entering the European Union. We pray to God that he will help us enter the European Union in order to keep our statehood, to keep peace and to improve the life of the people.”[453]
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church - Archbishop Emeritus of the Greek Catholic Church Lubomyr Husar spoke from the stage on Maidan Nezalezhnosti on 8 December,[454] and Ukrainian Greek Catholic priests in Kiev wore ribbons in the colours of the Ukrainian and European Union flags, and prayed for the protesters who were arrested.[455]
Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of Poland’s largest opposition party Law and Justice, stated his intent along with other party members to travel to Kiev on 1 December, stating “We believe that the response of the whole European Union is needed, but especially Poland's response. All major political forces in Poland have to speak out as Ukraine stands at a crossroads today. It's not just about the issues related to the European Union, it is a much deeper rooted problem. We are determined to support everything that leads Ukraine to Europe, everything that will strenghten and support Ukraine's democracy," calling on Radoslaw Sikorski, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs; Carl Bildt, Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs; Aleksander Kwasniewski and Pat Cox, both members of the European Parliament monitoring mission to join.[458][459]
Stanislav Aranovich, Leader of the Narodnaya Party of Russia, made on 3 December a statement that Russia, as a part of CIS,[nb 15] is obliged to support the Government of Ukraine against the opposition, down to military intervention by sending Russian Interior Ministry forces to help their Ukrainian colleagues.[463]
Republican Party of Russia co-leader Boris Nemtsov said on behalf of his party on 2 December: "We support Ukraine's course toward European integration [...] By supporting Ukraine, we also support ourselves."[301]
United States SenatorJohn McCain issued on 3 December a statement saying "The eyes of the world are on Ukraine. Ukraine’s leaders should respect their people’s basic rights, including freedom of expression and assembly, and refrain from acts of violence against peaceful demonstrators [...] Ukrainians should not be forced to choose between a future in the west or the east. They should be free to chart their nation's future as they choose, in the best interest of Ukraine's citizens."[464]
Former President of GeorgiaMikheil Saakashvili delivered a speech on Euromaidan in Kiev on 7 November.[465] He said “Victory in Ukraine will put an end to the Putin regime, and they’ll write in history books that the Russian Empire ceased to exist on the Euromaidan,”[466]
Political experts
Alexander J. Motyl, in an open letter to the president, called for his resignation: "In marching in the streets of Kyiv, Lviv, and other cities, Ukrainians have demonstrated that, after three years of your predations, they have not lost their spirit, dignity, and desire for freedom. They have shown that you have lost and that your attempt to build a gangster state has failed. Permit me to inform you that they have demoted you from president of Ukraine to the provisional occupant of the presidency of Ukraine. You should act accordingly and resign." In commenting on the political situation surrounding the protests, he stated, "The fact of the matter is that you have maneuvered yourself into a hopeless position. You have no allies in the world. You have minimal support in Ukraine. The economy is on the verge of collapse. The government is ineffective. Your regime is cracking. Your rule is evaporating. You know better than anyone that violence is not an option. The army and militia are unreliable, the internal troops are untested, and the special forces are too few. Do you really want to risk provoking a civil war that could destroy the country and that you will not be able to win?"[467]
Taras Kuzio - Less than 24 hours after the Ukrainian government decree suspended preparations for signing of the association agreement, political analyst Dr. Taras Kuzio taped an analysis with UkeTube, saying "If 100,000 Ukrainians don't protest, we'll fail. Moldova managed to mobilize thousands of people on the streets in support of EU integration. If they can do it, Ukraine is also able to do it."[468] In subsequent video analysis with UkeTube, Kuzio says that "Yanukovych is not longer Ukraine's future" and submits that Yanukovych is neither "pro-European nor pro-Russian, he is only pro-Yanukovych." Kuzio echoes Yulia Mostova, Editor of Dzerkalo Tyzhnya, saying that Yanukovych's only goals are "to become the wealthiest man in Ukraine, the most powerful man in Ukraine, and to stay in power as long as possible, if not indefinitely." [469]
Anders Åslund - "While the democratic opposition seems set to take over, Yanukovych’s own camp appears unready to apply harsh methods to suppress their protests. It is difficult to see any way out for Yanukovych [...] The main way out of the current crisis is for the regime to be ousted through defections from its ranks and for a roundtable negotiation to resolve the issues, as was the case during the Orange Revolution in December 2004."[470]
President of the Foundation for Effective Politics Gleb Pavlovsky posited on December 2 that the events in Kiev were not a revolution but plot against Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. In Pavlovsky's opinion, part of the Ukrainian leadership who are dissatisfied with Azarov may support the actions. In his theory, President Viktor Yanukovych can have his own political interests at stake, and may be supported internally by the government. "Yanukovych has kept Azarov for the very purpose of writing off all the sins to his Cabinet and firing him at any moment. It is possible that it is going to happen now."[472]
Timothy D. Snyder, a Yale University historian and specialist in Eastern Europe, commented: "If this is a revolution, it must be one of the most common-sense revolutions in history. But the desire of so many to be able to have normal lives in a normal country is opposed by two fantasies, one of them now exhausted and the other extremely dangerous. The exhausted fantasy is that of Ukraine’s geopolitical significance. Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych seems to believe, and he is not alone, that because Ukraine lies between the European Union and Russia, each side must have an interest in controlling it, and therefore that smart geopolitics involves turning them against each other [...] The dangerous fantasy is the Russian idea that Ukraine is not really a different country, but rather a kind of Slavic younger brother. This is a legacy of the late Soviet Union and the Russification policies of the 1970s. It has no actual historical basis: East Slavic statehood arose in what is now Ukraine and was copied in Moscow, and the early Russian Empire was itself highly dependent upon educated inhabitants of Ukraine."[473]
Russian television
According to Radio Free Europe/Radio LibertyRussian state television reporting on Euromaidan "has been described as misleading, [and] at times downright odd"; it claimed "Russian television reporters have spared no efforts to portray the protesters as a horde of hooligans funded by the West to topple Yanukovych and sow chaos in Ukraine".[474] A Russia-1 report on 1 December featured an eight-minute long live segment that contained no interviews and almost no additional footage. The reporter said the situation in Kiev is pure “anarchy,” adding that the streets were dangerous, especially for Russians, and said that the protests seem to be orchestrated by Western countries.[475] On the same network, the Klitschko brothers were described on 8 December as "gay icons", and demonstrators in Kiev were accused of using "ancient African military techniques" against police.[474] Attempts were made to link alleged "early sex from the age of 9 in Sweden" with European integration.[474] Also during a show on Russia-1 it was stated that the protests had been organised by Sweden, Poland and Lithuania "because they were still smarting from Russia’s victory at the Battle of Poltava in 1709".[476] “This week the coalition has shown its full strength,” Mr. Kiselyov said on his weekly talk show, "It looked like a thirst for revenge for Poltava.”[477]
During the second week of protests, Russia-24 had made a link between "a sharp deterioration in the political climate in Ukraine" with "the change in the seasons".[474] The station claimed that this was "a bold theory" of scientists at Columbia University (it added "And it appears that their Russian colleagues agree with them") and it advised protesters in Kiev to go home for the sake of their health, warning of "a sharp rise in acute respiratory viral infections in Kiev".[474] Russian state-owned Perviy Canal (Channel First) reported that only “several hundred people” showed up at the rally on 8 December, when in reality up to 500,000 attended.[475] It was reported that Russian newscasters in Kiev have opted to use unbranded microphones, so as to hide their channel's affiliation.[475]
Otar Dovzhenko, a TV analyst and professor at Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, explained that "Russian media can't hide the protests in Ukraine, so they try to bring them down, make them look undesirable. Discrediting the protests in Ukraine is very important for the regime of President Vladimir Putin. The Orange Revolution of 2004 gave strong inspiration to the opposition in Russia."[475] He also says that Russian media omit the genesis of the Euromaidan protests being the Ukrainian government, which is why foreign interests are usually focused on.[475]
George Clooney, American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter, released a one-minute YouTube video on 9 December in support of Euromaidan in Ukraine.[483][480]
Impact
Some known impacts to date include the following:
Support for Euromaidan in Ukraine
According to an 4 to 9 December 2013 study[484] by Research & Branding Group 49% of all Ukrainians supported Euromaidan and 45% had the opposite opinion. It was mostly supported in West (84%) and Central Ukraine (66%). A third (33%) of residents of South Ukraine and 13% of residents of Eastern Ukraine supported Euromaidan as well. The percentage of not supporters protesters was in East Ukraine 81%, in South Ukraine 60%, in Central Ukraine 27% and in Western Ukraine 11%.
Popular opinion in Ukraine about Association Agreement during Euromaidan
According to an 4 to 9 December 2013 study[484] by Research & Branding Group 46% of Ukrainians supported the integration of the country into EU, and 36% - into the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Most support for EU integration could be found in West (81%) and in Centrel (56%) Ukraine; 30%of residents of South Ukraine and 18% of residents of Eastern Ukraine supported the integration with EU as well. Integration with the Customs Union was supported 61% of East Ukraine and 54% of South Ukraine ans also by 22% of Central and 7% of Western Ukraine.
Economical impact
Moody's Investors Service reported on 4 December 2013 "As a consequence of the severity of the protests, demand for foreign currency is likely to rise" and noted that this was another blow to Ukraine's already poor solvency.[485] First deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov stated on 7 December Ukraine risked a default if failed to raise $10 billion "I asked for a loan to support us, and Europe [the EU] agreed, but a mistake was made - we failed to put it on paper".[329]
On 5 December Prime Minister Mykola Azarov stated that "money to finance the payment of pensions, wages, social payments, support of the operation of the housing and utility sector and medical institutions do not appear due to unrest in the streets" and he added that authorities were doing everything possible to ensure the timely financing of them.[486] On 3 December Azarov had warned Ukraine might not be able to fulfill its natural gas contracts with Russia.[487] And he blamed the deal on restoring gas supplies of 18 January 2009 for this.[487]
^The term "Euromaidan" was initially used as a hashtag on Twitter.[44] A Twitter account named Euromaidan was created on the first day of the protests.[45] It soon became popular in the international media.[46] It is composed of two parts: "Euro" is short for Europe and "maidan" refers to Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), the main square of Kiev, where the protests are centered.[44]
^The Kiev City Council building remained occupied by protesters with 'Revolution HQ' painted on the facade.[143]
^BBC correspondent David Stern reported on 2 December "Protesters also continue to occupy the Kiev city administration building. The scene inside is chaotic - and sometimes comical, with thousands of people streaming through as if on a tourist excursion."[140]
^Because Azarov addressed the parliament in Russian his speech was at times inaudible and drowned out by chants of "Speak Ukrainian!" and "Resign!" by Ukrainian nationalist MPs.[146]
^"Many people say that central television channels don't cover events in our industrial regions, don't show rallies in support of the government, although these regions form 90% of public revenues," he wrote on Facebook on 6 December 2013.[158] The same day he also wrote on Facebook "Dear friends, first of all we need to calm down now, put aside emotions and think hard and seriously. We have proposed the only right and correct way in this situation. We hope our EU partners will meet us halfway and understand that they should lend a helping hand to Ukraine now".[159]
^Ukraine is not a member of the CIS. Although Ukraine was one of the three founding countries and ratified the Creation Agreement in December 1991, Ukraine did not choose to ratify the CIS Charter.[460][461] In 1993 Ukraine became an "Associate Members" of CIS.[462]
^Ash, Timothy (1 December 2013). "The Orange Revolution MKII". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 1 December 2013. Today has seen huge demonstrations - likely well over the 100,000 that are reported to have attended last Sunday's demonstrations, and with some estimating well over 300,000.
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