(2014-02-20) Ukraine Protests

Last year: The Euromaidan is a wave of ongoing demonstrations, civil unrest and revolution in Ukraine, which began on the night of 21 November 2013 with public protests demanding closer European integration. The scope of the protests expanded, with many calls for the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych and his government.[70] Many protesters joined because of the violent dispersal of protesters on 30 November and "a will to change life in Ukraine".[5] By 25 January 2014, the protests had been fueled by the perception of widespread government corruption, abuse of power, and violation of human rights in Ukraine.

Now: A period of relative calm in the anti-government demonstrations ended abruptly on 18 February 2014, when protesters and police clashed. At least 82 people were killed over the following few days, including 13 policemen; more than 1,100 people were injured.

On 22 February, the protesters were reported to be in control of Kiev and President Viktor Yanukovych was reported to have fled the capital for eastern Ukraine.

On 1 March, Russia's parliament approved a request from President Vladimir Putin to deploy Russian troops in Ukraine.

Feb24: Mark Ames says "everything you know about the Ukraine is wrong". 1. The protesters are not “virtuous anti-Putin freedom fighters,” nor are they “Nazis and US puppets”... 2. About Ukraine’s neo-FascIst-s: They’re definitely real, they’re a powerful minority in the anti-Yanukovych campaign... 3. Everything you think you know about Ukraine is wrong. Everyone looking for a proxy side to support or oppose in the Ukraine political dynamic will be disappointed. Ukraine politics go by their own rules. Today’s neoliberal ultranationalist could be tomorrow’s Kremlin ally, and visa-versa. Just look at what happened to the Orange Revolution - nothing... 4. Yanukovych was not fighting neoliberalism, the World Bank, or oligarchy — nor was he merely a tool of the Kremlin.

Feb28: Mark Ames confirmed that the American government – in the form of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) – played a major role in funding opposition groups prior to the revolution. Moreover, a large percentage of the rest of the funding to those same groups came from Pierre Omidyar. (To Ames, this raises the question of whether Omidyar's advocacy activities conflict with the independence/neutrality goal of First Look Media.

As of March 1, Russian troops seized control over most of Crimean peninsula of Ukraine located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, including civil buildings, airports, and military bases. Mar01-04: Dmitry Orlov gives his view.

Mar02: Ben Judah: Western leaders are stunned because they haven’t realized Russia’s owners no longer respect Europeans the way they once did after the Cold War. Russia thinks the West is no longer a crusading alliance. Russia thinks the West is now all about the money... Once upon a time the Kremlin feared a foreign adventure might trigger Cold War economic sanctions where it hurts: export bans on key parts for its oil industry, even being cut out of its access to the Western banking sector. No more.

Mar04: Greg Satell lists what the media is getting wrong. Myth 1: The Interim Ukrainian Government Is Shaky, Illegitimate And Run By Neo Nazis... Myth 2: Ukraine Is A Divided Country... Myth 3: Ukraine Is No Match For Russia’s Military... Myth 4: Putin Has The Upper Hand... Myth 5: Mitt Romney Was Right About Russia.

Mar05: Orlov guest-blogger ReneeParsons gives a chronology going back to Apr'2011. The fact is that democracy was not a demand on the streets of Kiev. The current record of events indicates that protests of civil dissatisfaction were organized by reactionary neo-Nazi forces intent on fomenting a major domestic crisis ousting Ukraine’s legitimate government. As events continue to spiral out of control, here is the chronology of how the coup was engineered to install a government more favorable to EU and US goals.

Mar08: Ukrainian authorities are investigating the Feb. 18-20 bloodbath, and they have shifted their focus from ousted President Viktor Yanukovych's government to Vladimir Putin's Russia — pursuing the theory that the Kremlin was intent on sowing mayhem as a pretext for military incursion. Russia suggests that the snipers were organized by opposition leaders trying to whip up local and international outrage against the government.

Mar11: Dmitry Orlov again: The leading theory is that the snipers who fired indiscriminately on policemen, demonstrators and bystanders were hired by the Ukrainian opposition. (Interesting question: Were they paid with US State Dept. funds?) But in response the newly installed authorities in Kiev have gone full-retard and are blaming... why, Russia, of course! So obvious!

On March 16, officials said that some 95.5% of voters in Crimea supported joining Russia.[60] Election officials said the turnout was a record high,[61] although many Tatars and opponents of the referendum were reported to have boycotted the vote.[62] On March 17, the Crimean parliament officially declared its independence from Ukraine and requested to join the Russian Federation.

Mar17: Gary Brecher says "everything you know about Crimea is wrong": it’s just ignorant to claim that Crimea is a “consolation prize” for Russia. It may well be the only part of Ukraine they actually want, in fact... a lot of ethnic Ukrainians (and maybe even a few ethnic Tartars) voted with the Russian bloc, and it’s not likely they did so because they’re rabid Russian nationalists. More likely, it reflects the fact that Ukraine is a very poor country, while Russia seems to be doing pretty well... The history of Ukraine in the 20th century is so horrific, such a non-stop nightmare, that it’s impossible to blame anyone who wants out.