EPT+ Show Spoiler +
There were peaceful protests.
They were dispersed with inadequate violence.
The society gets outraged, around 1 million people get out in the streets. Some of the clashes with police result in violence.
Another dispersal attempt, Euromaidan holds.
Yanukovich decides to wait it out. Activists are being beaten, tortured, killed and put to prison everywhere besides Maidan.
Maidan stands for two months and counting.
"Draconic" laws against democratic freedoms are passed in the Parliament. Yanukovich signs those.
After another "Viche" meeting and another failure by the opposition to do something, Maidan goes to the Parliament but is stopped by police. Violence insues, started by radical Euromaidan activists.
After a few days of constant violence and numerous injuries on both sides police start shooting people.
Western and Central Ukraine rebel. Regional State Administrations are being captured.
Pro-Yanukovich MPs are holding negotiations with the opposition. Yanukovich needs to act or he would have lost the Parliament to the opposition. The "draconic" laws get reversed, Azarov fired, but his Cabinet of Ministers stays. Amnesty for the protesters is granted in return for the administrative buildings.
More time passes and Yanukovich still does nothing to satisfy the initial demands of Euromaidan.
Radical Euromaidan activists go to the Parliament. Violence breaks out again. Activists retreat to Maidan.
Yanukovich is pressed by Putin to put an end to Euromaidan to receive the next loan which he needs desperately to keep the economy from defaulting. He also smells weakness after the recent small victory and orders his troops forward. An ultimatum is set for the Euromaidan to clear the place out or else...
Police attacks. Casualties on both sides from gunfire, but Maidan holds. Yanukovich has proofs that activists are in possession of firearms. Regions of Ukraine rebel again. This time not just RSAs are being captured, but also SBU, MVD headquarters and prosecutor's offices. Almost all of Western Ukraine goes down in just a few hours.
Antiterrorist actions are introduced. Snipers start shooting activists by dozens, mostly going for their heads. Klichko goes for the negotiations with Yanukovich. Yanukovich would not speak of anything besides Euromaidan clearance.
The Parliament barely holds a meeting (around 240 members of 450) and orders the governmental troops to go home (only troops from Eastern and Southern regions were used in active measures against the protesters), restricts the use of gun-fire against civil protests, and puts an end to the antiterroristic campaign.
Negotiations with Yanukovich and oppostions start with the help of EU MFAs (Poland, France, Germany) and some Russians.
Yanukovich threatens to introduce the martial law and drown the revolution in blood. EU MFAs pressure the opposition into signing the deal.
Euromaidan does not accept the deal, Yanukovich has to go.
SBU, MVD, army one by one claim they support the people of Ukraine and would not use force against them.
The Parliament feels pressure to resolve the conflict by either giving up to Yanukovich or Euromaidan, or something terrible might happen. They choose the side of Euromaidan and start adopting the laws beyond the scope of the deal.
Yanukovich, already out of Kyiv, states he would not sign those laws. Claims there is coup d'etat going on.
The Parliament impeaches Yanukovich.
They were dispersed with inadequate violence.
The society gets outraged, around 1 million people get out in the streets. Some of the clashes with police result in violence.
Another dispersal attempt, Euromaidan holds.
Yanukovich decides to wait it out. Activists are being beaten, tortured, killed and put to prison everywhere besides Maidan.
Maidan stands for two months and counting.
"Draconic" laws against democratic freedoms are passed in the Parliament. Yanukovich signs those.
After another "Viche" meeting and another failure by the opposition to do something, Maidan goes to the Parliament but is stopped by police. Violence insues, started by radical Euromaidan activists.
After a few days of constant violence and numerous injuries on both sides police start shooting people.
Western and Central Ukraine rebel. Regional State Administrations are being captured.
Pro-Yanukovich MPs are holding negotiations with the opposition. Yanukovich needs to act or he would have lost the Parliament to the opposition. The "draconic" laws get reversed, Azarov fired, but his Cabinet of Ministers stays. Amnesty for the protesters is granted in return for the administrative buildings.
More time passes and Yanukovich still does nothing to satisfy the initial demands of Euromaidan.
Radical Euromaidan activists go to the Parliament. Violence breaks out again. Activists retreat to Maidan.
Yanukovich is pressed by Putin to put an end to Euromaidan to receive the next loan which he needs desperately to keep the economy from defaulting. He also smells weakness after the recent small victory and orders his troops forward. An ultimatum is set for the Euromaidan to clear the place out or else...
Police attacks. Casualties on both sides from gunfire, but Maidan holds. Yanukovich has proofs that activists are in possession of firearms. Regions of Ukraine rebel again. This time not just RSAs are being captured, but also SBU, MVD headquarters and prosecutor's offices. Almost all of Western Ukraine goes down in just a few hours.
Antiterrorist actions are introduced. Snipers start shooting activists by dozens, mostly going for their heads. Klichko goes for the negotiations with Yanukovich. Yanukovich would not speak of anything besides Euromaidan clearance.
The Parliament barely holds a meeting (around 240 members of 450) and orders the governmental troops to go home (only troops from Eastern and Southern regions were used in active measures against the protesters), restricts the use of gun-fire against civil protests, and puts an end to the antiterroristic campaign.
Negotiations with Yanukovich and oppostions start with the help of EU MFAs (Poland, France, Germany) and some Russians.
Yanukovich threatens to introduce the martial law and drown the revolution in blood. EU MFAs pressure the opposition into signing the deal.
Euromaidan does not accept the deal, Yanukovich has to go.
SBU, MVD, army one by one claim they support the people of Ukraine and would not use force against them.
The Parliament feels pressure to resolve the conflict by either giving up to Yanukovich or Euromaidan, or something terrible might happen. They choose the side of Euromaidan and start adopting the laws beyond the scope of the deal.
Yanukovich, already out of Kyiv, states he would not sign those laws. Claims there is coup d'etat going on.
The Parliament impeaches Yanukovich.
Initial Euromaidan description
+ Show Spoiler +
The 2013 Ukraine pro-European Union protests or Euromaidan (Ukrainian: Євромайдан) protests in Ukraine began on the night of 21 November 2013, when Ukrainian citizens started spontaneous protests in the capital of Kiev. On the previous day, 21 November 2013, the Ukrainian government suspended preparations for signing an Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the European Union. The protests are ongoing despite a heavy police presence, and an increasing number of university students are joining the protests. Law enforcement agencies, namely Berkut (a special unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs), violently and without provocation attacked peacefully protesting students and journalists in the early morning of 30 November. The escalating violence from government forces has caused the level of protests to rise, with 350,000–1,600,000 protesters demonstrating in Kiev at the movement's peak on December 1.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Ukraine_pro-European_Union_protests
Key points:
- main cause: suspension of the European Union Association Agreement by the government. The failed agreement is believed to be the result of Russia blackmailing Ukraine, that it will close it's market for the Ukrainian products if the agreement is signed.
- on the early hours on the 30th of November all protesters were dispersed from the Square of Independence (Maidan Nezalejnosti) by Berkut (special units of Ukrainian police). Police was chasing down fleeing people and continuosly beating them. No warning was given before the attack took place. Mobile phone connection was surpressed during the attack. In Ukraine the raid is widely regarded to be sanctioned by the President and the Prime Minister, though they denounced the action. Minister of Internal Affairs claimed "riot police abused their power" but added "if there are calls for mass disturbances, then we will react to this harshly".
- on December 1 Kiev's District Administrative Court banned the 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. But it didn't stop the most massive protests since the Orange Revolution. Around 500,000 were supposed to have gathered at Maidan Nezalezhnosti, and at least another 500,000 in other central streets and squares.
- Demands. The protests started off rather spontaneously and unorganized. Social media played a big role in organizing people. Currently there are demands for the President's and Government's resignation but that is unrealistic. President's impeachment is also unlikely since the Parliament is largely controlled by the propresidential party, though several deputies have left it after the latest events.
"Draconic" laws
+ Show Spoiler +
On January 17 2014 04:52 Cheerio wrote:
Ok, this is important.
Today the Ukrainian Parliament approved a set of laws. The way in which those were approved is basically a fraud. The voting was done not through an electronic voting system (which was working just fine), but by raising hands. Almost every time the number of positive votes was the same at 235 and the calculation was somehow done manually in just a few seconds. About the laws:
1) Rehabilitation of Berkut and other police officers for their actions against peaceful protests and journalists.
2) Participation in massive public order violations, disturbances of normal transport traffic (and other violations of the similar kind) can be punished by a fee of 150-250 minimal monthly wages or up to two years in prison. So participation in peaceful demonstrations on Maidan is basically a criminal offense now. In addition further restrictions on mass protests have been added. Setting up a tent, carrying a mask or a hard hat at the wrong time and place is punishable by up to 15 days in prison. Moving in car columns with more than 5 vehicles without road police ratification can be punished by a fee of up to 50 minimal monthly wages or vehicle confiscation.
3) Mobile Sim-cards can't be purchased without a passport from now on. Current Sim-card users would probably have to sign contracts with their service providers or have their service denied.
4) All Ukrainian websites operating as internet mass media are to be properly registered as information agencies or face severe sanctions. Needless to say many Ukrainian internet news agencies might have problems receiving a license. Also a special commission has the authority to force ISP's into denying access to such websites.
5) A new enactment has been added about extremist activities. Extremist activities involve calls to overthrow the government via mass media (internet social networks included). The penalty is 200-800 minimal monthly wages or prison sentence up to 3 years.
6) Slender is now a criminal offense. Slender is a deliberate distribution of false information about somebody. Punishment - up to two years in prison. It is expected that the law would be used against the journalists and oppositional politics who are looking too much into what current officials can afford with their low official salaries. Since it is almost impossible to prove ownership unless the authorities are willing to disclose information almost any information of such kind can be categorized as slender.
7) Collection of confidential information about judges or police officers or it's publication is against the law and can be punished by 200-400 minimal wages or 6 months prison sentence.
8) A concept of "foreign agent" has been introduced. It includes civil organizations receiving grants from abroad. Such organizations would be additionally taxed and would need to make reports of their activities on the monthly basis.
Ok, this is important.
Today the Ukrainian Parliament approved a set of laws. The way in which those were approved is basically a fraud. The voting was done not through an electronic voting system (which was working just fine), but by raising hands. Almost every time the number of positive votes was the same at 235 and the calculation was somehow done manually in just a few seconds. About the laws:
1) Rehabilitation of Berkut and other police officers for their actions against peaceful protests and journalists.
2) Participation in massive public order violations, disturbances of normal transport traffic (and other violations of the similar kind) can be punished by a fee of 150-250 minimal monthly wages or up to two years in prison. So participation in peaceful demonstrations on Maidan is basically a criminal offense now. In addition further restrictions on mass protests have been added. Setting up a tent, carrying a mask or a hard hat at the wrong time and place is punishable by up to 15 days in prison. Moving in car columns with more than 5 vehicles without road police ratification can be punished by a fee of up to 50 minimal monthly wages or vehicle confiscation.
3) Mobile Sim-cards can't be purchased without a passport from now on. Current Sim-card users would probably have to sign contracts with their service providers or have their service denied.
4) All Ukrainian websites operating as internet mass media are to be properly registered as information agencies or face severe sanctions. Needless to say many Ukrainian internet news agencies might have problems receiving a license. Also a special commission has the authority to force ISP's into denying access to such websites.
5) A new enactment has been added about extremist activities. Extremist activities involve calls to overthrow the government via mass media (internet social networks included). The penalty is 200-800 minimal monthly wages or prison sentence up to 3 years.
6) Slender is now a criminal offense. Slender is a deliberate distribution of false information about somebody. Punishment - up to two years in prison. It is expected that the law would be used against the journalists and oppositional politics who are looking too much into what current officials can afford with their low official salaries. Since it is almost impossible to prove ownership unless the authorities are willing to disclose information almost any information of such kind can be categorized as slender.
7) Collection of confidential information about judges or police officers or it's publication is against the law and can be punished by 200-400 minimal wages or 6 months prison sentence.
8) A concept of "foreign agent" has been introduced. It includes civil organizations receiving grants from abroad. Such organizations would be additionally taxed and would need to make reports of their activities on the monthly basis.
Violent events of 18–23 February 2014
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Ukrainian_revolution
Crimean Crisis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Crimean_crisis
