The government banned peaceful protest. You keep calling the revolution undemocratic, yet peaceful demonstration is considered almost universally as the rawest form of democracy there is. You can not get more democratic than that.
When Yanukovych banned peaceful protest, bricked 1000's of peoples sim cards, banned people from wearing helmuts and other protective clothing. When the crowd failed to move using his scare tactics and paid thugs (titushki), he moved in with batons and nightsticks, when they still failed to move he used rubber bullets, when they still failed to move, he used real bullets, and when they still failed to move he used AK47's and Dragunov SVD's.
The majority of Berkut riot police in Kiev were not killed by protesters, they were killed by the double agent snipers of unknown origin, that were killing both protestors and police. The next day he signed the power sharing deal, he was not under the gun.
Then he fled, He still had 100's of loyal Police, 100's of loyal Berkut. Kiev if he wanted could still have defended it's self. He either relised it was pointless and only made his situation worse, or he preplanned to leave a few days before the shootings.
You keep calling it a Coup, but Russia actually recognised the February 21st agreement as legal. Russia did not call it a Coup until the next day 22nd February when he fled. So if you want to call it a coup from the Russian point of view, please provide some evidence of this Coup from 22nd. (I have already looked there in none). There is no evidence to back up his claim he was under fire from the "Pravyi (right) sektor". Like I said there were enough Berkut to protect him if needed. It all points at a pre-planned escape.
Don't mistake far-right Ukrainian Nationalism for Ukrainian Nationalism. They are entitled to a national identity, and they should be free to choose whether this is defined by Traditional Conservative Russian influence or Modern Progressive European influence.
Svoboda are a Ukrainian political party that's main aim is to promote the Ukrainian national identity and promote the use of the Ukrainian language. They are anti-USSR and anti-Russia. They have members of the parliament that were elected in the last election. Sure they had there roots in national socialism. However the conservative party in the UK has national socialism connections over the years, Enoch Powell, Oswald Mosley had roots in the conservative party. Parties and there members are defined by their actions since the Svoboda party rose form the ashes of it's national socialist roots in 2004 (this is true), however, it has gained seats in Parliament based on the fact it's more mainstream a decade later. Additionally it's transformation from far-right to center right has been well documented. It also won over 10% of the seats in parliament in the 2012 election. Until they pass try to pass or propose an anti -semetic law you have to take them on face value. Ihor Kolomoyskyi, president of the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, stated in 2010 that the party has clearly shifted from the far-right to the center.[108]
They have not asked or tried to ban Russian as a language, they just don't want it as an "official language". I don't see that as a problem. They don't want their country Russkified, singing and dancing to the Kremlins wishes. Personally I see that as a justified claim.
The Svoboda partys main aim is to roll back the Yanukovych years. His party (the party of regions), who's aim is to promote the Russian identity and language. they posed as a center party but clearly have proven themselves anti Ukrainian and towards the end proved to be anti EU. The party hired titushki to terrorize the maidan protestors and cities in west Ukraine. They are considered to have moved from the center to the right, and based on events this year the far right.
They only have 3 seats in government out of the 21 available. Opinion polls put them at 28% of the popular vote, and they won 10% in 2012. So a 14% share in the current Government looks fair to me.
also, in contrast to Putin's United Russia party, they have not moved to ban "homosexual Propaganda", they have not suppressed minorities. So how can a far-right party in Russia accuse Ukraine of having a far right party in power.
so..
1. they were democratically elected into parliament.
2. they have so far proven they have shifted dramatically from the parties roots.
3. their say in government is temporary, and the people will decide next month, on what party will rule in Ukraine.
4. they only control 14% of government.
5. They are not considered far right any longer by Jewish Community of Ukraine.
One incident of a Svoboda party member suppressing the free press? Yes I saw it, and already commented on it earlier in the thread. It's does not help Ukraine cause.
there is no free press in Russia, and non in Crimea now and the kidnapping of journalists has stated in East Ukraine too.
Politicians dead! Journalists dead!
I would like to see a full collapse of the Russian hierarchy. Because the USSR diversified after humiliation, with many members including Putin that are still full of bitterness. The old ways are still there, they have a lower democracy index than Egypt. The whole democracy thing in Russia is simply in my opinion an illusion.
Democracy map of the world. Ukraine is better than Russia, so who are they to lecture any country on who and who should not rule. Putin's government are hypocritical at every level.
Yes they have, and for those that have I am grateful. I am also sorry to the people I have shot down in flames, I'm sorry to you if I make you feel you are supporting Putin.
I think, and have stated several times though that the pull towards Russia is not as strong as is being made out. People want the Russian language in several areas of Ukraine. But the right to use the language is not the main question. No one is forcing citzens to speak Ukrainian.
What they want is for the official language to remain as Ukrainian. They reason for this is economic as much as anything else. On almost every single urban street in Ukraine you will find this sign.
It means Notarius (in English Solicitor), The entire system should remain Ukrainian, as there are 10,000's of Solicitors in Ukraine that work in Ukrainian. To make Russian a official language will make the county inefficient and open to corruption via incorrectly translated official documents. Most of the population does not have a high level of education, so Solicitors are used for everything form applying for a passport, legal advice, to getting a residence permit. To change this system is nothing more than an attempt at Russkifiction (if that's a word).
They have already said about a week ago they can have a referendum on more autonomy via federalisation . It was ignored.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2...kraines-future
It's not about calling Russia's bluff they will move the goal posts as and when they want.
EDIT:
Or as some people are already pointing out this, is merely the side show to Russia's financial collapse. As shale gas gathers momentum in US, EU, India and China, Russia's position looks more and more hopeless. Twice the population of the UK with more land than any other country, the GDP is still less then the UK and will be in recession again soon. Without either mayor political reform (which would mean Putin is either in Prison for corruption and/or war crimes) or diversification from fuel based economy, Russia is up the creek. How Crimea really changes that is cloudy, but Crimea offers a tourism and some of the best unknown vineyards in the world. It also makes Russia project it's self a a great power again, and it has boosted Putin approval ratings (temporary). He's playing a very dangerous game, and it's difficult to see him winning in the long or even medium term. Even if you take Ukraine on it's own, it won't be a push over. The Pro-Russian camp is not as big as Putin wants the world to believe.
Putin is said to have admitted that Russia invaded then annexed Crimea due nothing more than outright survival. Although I can't find a credible source on this.
http://maidantranslations.com/2014/0...omic-collapse/