Posted on 10/16/2005 10:25:56 PM PDT by jb6
KIEV, Ukraine — Thousands of aging Red Army veterans and their supporters clashed Saturday in downtown Kiev with partisans who fought the Soviets and Nazis during World War II and now want pensions and official recognition as veterans.
Hundreds of nationalists from western Ukraine gathered in the capital to demand formal recognition for the partisans, a move that would also entitle them to social and financial benefits.
"They died for Ukraine, and we must recognize it and honor them as heroes," said protester Vasil Kokoyda, 55.
Thousands of Red Army veterans and their supporters, waving red flags and chanting "Get out!" and "Shame!" marched in counter-protest as Soviet war songs played over loudspeakers. Some Red Army supporters grabbed the flags of the nationalists and set them on fire.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Why don't the aging Reds move to Russia and get pensions from Putin? I am quite sure that they hate Yuschenko anyway, and are probably Russians.
Maybe because the majority are Ukrainians and were born there and have a right to voice their opinion. Love the "disagree then leave this country" form of democracy.
ping
But they are Pro-Soviet Pro-Russia anti-Yuschenko commies
I guess you missed the "pro-business" policies of Yuschenko's/Tymoshenko's first 8 months where taxes went up 20%, minimal wage 90% and the government started setting price ceilings on gas, oil, milk, grain, meat etc. The "commie" Yanukovich had the economy churning at 12.4% growth last year, the "capitalist" Yushchenko dropped that to under 4% with a 17% inflation rate, the worst in eastern europe. You judge.
Those "commies" were the people who crushed Hitler. Their rivals fought with Hitler. So the situatuion isn't about good and bad guys. Also many Red Army vets were Ukrainian.
Recently President Yuschenko signed a political agreement with Mr. Yanucovich and called for national unity.
You mean "real" Ukrainians fought on the other side?
There is no hope that those guys will ever agree with each other. But I think that those who fought on the streets are extremists and majority stayed at home. With proper historic education new generation will leave these problems behind and they are the future.
These old guys, UPA and Red Army, will be figthing each other in the afterlife, which is not that far off for them.
Later they fought for Poland's survival.
I'm sure that Nazi would have implemented their agenda towards Slavs if they hadn't been stopped by the Allies, including Red Army, which engaged 80% of the Nazi grouf forces.
Later they fought for Poland's survival.
I'm sure that Nazi would have implemented their agenda towards Slavs if they hadn't been stopped by the Allies, including Red Army, which engaged 80% of the Nazi grouf forces.
There is no such thing as "proper historical education". Today's Ukraine is a split nation, it has a fancy assembled territory. These are two big problems for them.
I think it would have been an interesting fight....hundreds of geriatrics brawlin....slow and sloppy but interesting non the less.
Sorry, didn't work
I heard that UPA killed many Ukrainians as well, so their „hero” status is even more controversial.
"I think it would have been an interesting fight....hundreds of geriatrics brawlin....slow and sloppy but interesting non the less."
Yeah, there'd be a bunch of guys getting thumped with canes, crutches, and walkers. Somebody would get run over by a motorized wheelchair...
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