Kiev: Government Buildings Under Siege

Arutz Sheva ^ | 3/12/13 | Gil Ronen

[Eleutheria5]

Thousands of demonstrators besieged government buildings in Kiev Tuesday, rallying against President Viktor Yanukovich's decision to abandon a long-awaited deal for closer ties with the EU.

A group of protesters tried to storm Yanukovich's office and police chased protesters away with tear-gas and truncheons, injuring dozens. “The blockade is severely disrupting the process of government here," said a reporter for Al Jazeera in Kiev. "Essentially, President Yanukovich has lost control of the center of Kiev." The Guardian reported that police had “deserted the center of the city, while thousands of people blocked entrances to government buildings and gathered again on Independence Square.”

At least three politicians from the governing Party of Regions have quit in protest and one of them, Inna Bohoslovska, previously a vocal government supporter, called on other legislators to leave the party. A top Agriculture Ministry official also resigned on Monday.

The opposition hopes to topple the cabinet of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov during a confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday. It would need 226 votes in the 450-seat Rada, but presently controls about 170 seats.

Yanukovych reached out to the European Union on Monday requesting new talks, but the EU told him that the sweeping trade deal he refused to sign last week after six years of talks wasn't open for renegotiation—and warned him against using force to disperse the crowds in Kiev's main square.

Video of police brutality http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEC4ccWXuBE#t=50

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[boxlunch]

No, that’s not a good analogy. There is no “Ted Cruz” factor at all. You certainly would never compare Yanukovich, a corrupt criminal, to Ted Cruz.

It’s more like Obama is elected president and decides to cozy up to Russia, and several years later a bunch of his opponents storm DC , wanting us to be aligned with the EU.

Neither option would be very good. Both would give up national sovereignty. I guess they don’t feel strong enough to stand on their own. They are very dependent on Russian oil/gas.

There is also a split between eastern and western Ukraine, with the west side wanting to be more “European” and the eastern regions feeling closer bonds to Russia (culturally, politically, etc.).

[LowTaxesEqualsProsperity]

Yanukovich was freely elected last time. Mob action deposing elected officials is not “democracy”. I smell Soros and the Eurofascists trying to take over.

[Eleutheria5]

It’s either closer ties with Brussels, or being tied to their old boss Russia. Brussels is full of micro-managing bureaucrats, sure. But they’re less likely to move in and take over and kill a lot of people in the process.

[GeronL]

closer ties to Brussels sounds nice.... giving up all your sovereignty to the EUSSR’s politburo is nuts

[Eleutheria5]

A heavy yoke instead of an unbearable yoke.

[Eleutheria5]

Good point. But the alternative is, let’s lock our selves in a cage with a bear and let him eat us.

[Eleutheria5]

Ever since Bogdan Chmelnicki’s marauding cossacks destroyed the consolidated Polish/Lithuanian state, everyone in Eastern Europe has been subjugated to Russia, the only other big fish in the tank. Poland is now independent, as is Lithuania and the rest of the Baltic states. I can sympathize with the Ukrain’s desire to remain so as well. But there still is one big fish in the tank. EU has its faults, but it’s outside the tank. When you’re a little fish, the guy outside with the net and the little bowl of water might be preferable to the big fish.

[dfwgator]

Greatest tragedy in European history was the fall of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

[Eleutheria5]

And one of the most blatant acts of territorial greed.

[Tailgunner Joe]

Yanukovich is learning the price of “friendship” with Neo-Soviet Russia. KGB Putin does not strengthen those who ally with him, he only undermines their authority and leads them into isolation.

[annalex]

It is also, for good or bad, an assertion of Ukraine's sovereignty, as it firmly denies its former joint-at-the-hip status with Russia. That, in fact, will be the lasting outcome, as the EU is not likely to accept Ukraine any time soon, -- too large.

We now have seen two vectors, Russia heading into Asia, Ukraine into Europe.

I have a few more collections for your enjoyment. Sorry, no translation from me, but if one or two intrigue you, ask.

Long reports at the links, many photos, some videos:

Link 1: Toward the bottom, scenes inside the occupied City Administration. Observe self-appointed militia on guard against looters.
Link 2: confrontation with police, demonstrators trying to break to the Presidential palace. Some citizens try to stop violent provocations.
Link 3: Diverse confrontation scenes around the city. The giant green cone was supposed to be a Christmas tree, used as pretext to disperse the demonstrants; they, however, came right back.

[annalex]

It was noted, that the “police” facing the bulldozer were in fact young Army recruits. The cops were hiding way back.

[annalex]

Useful links at 38, 51.

If you want to be on this right wing, monarchy, paleolibertarianism and nationalism ping list, but are not, please let me know. If you are on it and want to be off, also let me know. This ping list is not used for Catholic-Protestant debates.

[GeronL]

swinging a chain around like that, lucky if you don’t get shot

[annalex]

Yes, and somewhere in there is a picture of what a helmet looks like after contact with the chain. It was, according to the citizen-reporter, a provocation that was neutralized. The storming of the palace did not succeed.

[Mike Darancette]

So, will Vlad step in?

[GeronL]

bump

[cunning_fish]

It doesn’t looks like a peaceful gathering and police are pretty much restrained considering how violent the mob is.
I guess organizers want police to shoot on protesters to cry “violence!”.

[Bigg Red]

Scary photos. Not looking forward to the when those scenes come here.

[annalex]

From my Link 2:

12. Next a very strange thing began. The bulldozer was surreounded by people who did not allow it to contionue the assault. The majority of the mob was against clashes with police, even more so since the front was young soldier recruits. For about an hour there were local skirmishes. Those who favored violence would beat up who prevented the bulldozer crushing people. Eveyone accused everyone of provocations, but the result was that the bulldozer was not allowed to continue the assault. On the left there are soldiers, the bulldozer is surrounded by peaceful protesters and they do not allow it to begin an assault.


13. The radicals try to build a corridor for their bulldozer and sooner begin the assault, but it is not working out. At one moment a people's deputy climbed the bulldozer and tried to calm people down. He said that people with bats are provocators who want a massacre. "Not a drop of blood" -- the crowd began to chant. "F*ck off, traitor" -- the youth responded to the deputy and started throwing coins at him. The deputy promised people a peaceful version of overthrowing the government without casualties. Generally in the crowd there were many opposition deputies who together with the plain folks stopped the bulldozer and tried to prevent clashes. Good work -- but is it possible in our country? [the writer is Russian].


14. A crowd of youths dragged people trying to block the bulldozer and beat them up. On the left see a metal rod; one young moron decided to use it to crush the head of a peaceful protester who fell down. Good that the photographs who were nearby stopped the moron.

That seems the only violent scene initiated by the protesters, or provocateurs therein. Generally, you see peaceful protest. Note the national flags everywhere rather than various party banners.

From Link 1:

26. In the City Administration building, new order is quickly established. This is interesting. When I observed the revolution in Kyrgyzstan, the demostrators carried out everything from the buildings they took over, including the embellishments. They looted and burned everything on their way. In Kiev, the occupiers themselves blocked all hallways that lead to the offices and the upper floors, so that no one wlaked there or god forbid steal something!

27. On the left you can see display cases -- this is a gift museum. Not a single gift was touched! Not one widnow was broken inside. Incredible!

(Translated from Russian).