Ukrainian protests against the government have turned deadly. Here’s what you need to know. (Warning: video contains graphic content)
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In the past couple of days, clashes between Ukrainian protesters and police have turned deadly, with at least four casualties and hundreds more injured. The origin of the protests have been unclear in Western media, but yesterday, a Ukrainian journalist named Taras Ilkiv explained the situation in an op-ed for Business Insider:
During the presidential elections in 2010, according to the testimony of international observers, Viktor Yanukovych legitimately beat his main opponent — the world-famous woman and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Then, during his rule, authorities condemned her for a disadvantageous gas contract with Russia and sentenced her to seven years in prison! Afterwards Yanukovych and his crew did not dare to go against the Russians and review the contract or resolve the issue in court. This event has spoiled relations of Ukraine’s President with Western leaders. President Obama is ignoring Yanukovych; and Vladimir Putin — with whom Tymoshenko signed gas contracts in 2009 — declared his readiness to accept the treatment of Tymoshenko in Russia for her back ailment.
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Adding to this unbelievable story is that former heavyweight boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko is considered one of the main contenders for the presidency should Yanukovych’s government fall.
Although the protests have turned violent, Ilkiv said that the protesters have been fighting back in some incredibly creative ways: by setting up shop in the center of Kiev and making their own community, complete with a hospital, security, and an “impromptu university”.
On Thursday, the White House threatened sanctions against the Ukraine if the violence continued. This story, however, is emblematic of the political crises that have been unfolding in Ukraine over the past decade: from the attempted assassination of former president Victor Yuschenko, to the imprisonment of ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine’s government led by centrist Viktor Yanukovych has been repeatedly under fire for corruption and close ties to Vladimir Putin.
Just some final thoughts: it’s hard for young Americans such as myself to comprehend exactly what has happened over the past couple of years with the uprisings against authoritative and oppressive regimes throughout the world. From the Arab Spring to protests in Thailand, anti-austerity demonstrations in Greece to the anti-Yanukovych “Euromaiden” in Ukraine, there seems to be a real yearning for democracy around the world, even in places that couldn’t comprehend it twenty years ago. My only hope is that both sides come to an agreement as quickly as possible and no more blood is shed; but as I’m sitting here,, I’m reminded once again that, while we’re still learning how to solve our problems without war, pain and conflict, these are incredible times we’re living in.
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Credit—Photo/Sasha Maksymenko
The Ukraine, is to Russia, what Cuba is to the
USA.
Democracy, I don’t see much of that, it’s maneuver to control and seize whatever is advantageous to the interests of reigning democracies. It’s a power grab, with the intention of subduing the Slavic world.