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Tag: Viktor Yanukovychm

  • Ukraine President Flees Kiev Amid Demands To Resign

    According to anti-government forces in Kiev, Ukraine, President Yanukovych has fled the capital. Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko said that he left the capital, however other officials are saying there’s reason to believe Yanukovych has actually left the country.

    He leaves on the heels of allegedly signing an agreement that was meant to bring an end to the worst violence in the nation’s history. Not since Ukraine first became a nation had so many lives been lost. This week alone saw nearly 100 people die and hundreds more injured.

    The bloody carnage was enough for Western powers to begin a move towards sanctioning the troubled nation. With Ukraine’s already devastated economy, such a course of action could have been disastrous. Meanwhile Russia had previously condemned the interference of Western powers, having already signed an economic agreement separately with Ukraine.

    Despite the peace agreement that Yanukovych is said to have made, anti-government protesters refuse to abandon their stronghold in Independence Square at the heart of Kiev.

    It has been their refuge since late November when Yanukovych first moved towards a political and economic union with Russia while walking away from talks with the European Union. The act outraged millions of Ukrainian citizens and saw hundreds of thousands storm the capital city in protest. Over time protests spread to much of Western Ukraine.

    As security forces attempted to crack down on the protesters, they fought back. These clashes turned increasingly violent in recent weeks.

    Despite the turmoil, it was clear that anti-government forces would not be deterred. Opposition leaders rejected offers of power and previous truces failed.

    The protesters continue to demand Yanukovych’s resignation despite his current absence.

    The Ukrainian parliament is seen as the “only legitimate power” in the country at the moment, and Yanukovych’s ruling party, the Regions Party, has already seen dozens of lawmakers resign and defect to other parties. The party that once controlled almost half of all votes is left shattered.

    President Yanukovych’s location remains unknown.

    Image via YouTube

  • Ukraine Protests Continue: At Least Two Protestors Slain

    Reports indicate that turmoil is amplifying in Ukraine as protests stretch beyond its capital.

    On Friday, protestors in cities near Kiev surrounded government buildings, confronting authorities. The demonstrations, which began in November, were initially spurred after Ukraine opted out from signing an accord on more cooperation with the EU, and instead decided to strengthen its relationship with Russia.

    The discord came to a head last week and devolved into violence on the heels of new anti-protest laws. Sunday there were reports that demonstrators launched firebombs into the Ukrainian House building and set off fireworks while police were inside.

    Authorities retaliated with tear gas.

    President Viktor Yanukovych recently made proposals to the opposition, when he extended to their leader, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the position of Prime Minister, suggesting Valai Klitschko (former boxer) also take the post of deputy prime minister. Yatsenyuk, a former foreign minister, rejected the offer, insisting that key demands must be met, including new elections, and that talks will continue.

    While the concession itself is considered a coup, the opposition aspires to a full coup d’etat and is proceeding as such.

    Despite the uncertainty about whether President Yanukovych even means to honor the proposals he has offered, the move is regardless viewed as a weakness on his part and fuel for the opposition to move forward. However, it is surmised that Yanukovych has a method to his madness as well; by prolonging negotiations with the opposition and centering attention and time onto Yatsenyuk potentially being appointed the position of prime minister, the energy of the protest movement could slowly deflate should with the redirected the focus.

    As the most recent Kiev incident illustrates, however, there’s no absence of passion in the protests, presently.

    In half the country, demonstrators have fervently pressed on past Kiev in all directions. Protesters have occupied the council building in Sumy, been exposed to tear gas and smoke grenades by police in Zaporizhzhya, were arrested and driven out of the regional state and administration building in Cherkasy, and erected barricades outside a Chernihiv regional administration building.

    Following the 100 protester occupation on Saturday at the headquarters of the energy ministry in Kiev, Minister Eduard Stavitskiy has said the country’s nuclear energy facilities are on high alert.

    However, the consequences were direr for some demonstrators.

    Last week, 25 year-old Mikhail Zhiznevsky was one of at least two activists killed. In Kiev, thousands of his fellow protesters carried his coffin though the streets while loudly praising him with the chant “hero!

    During his weekly Angelus prayer, Pope Francis said, “I am close to Ukraine in prayer, in particular to those who have lost their lives in recent days and to their families,” expressing a hope for “constructive dialogue between the institutions and civil society,” and adding that “the spirit of peace and a search for the common good should be in the hearts of all.”

    He then had two peace doves released… and this happened:

    Image via Youtube