Thousands protest in Ukraine, defying court ban

Reuters ^ | Sunday, Jan. 19th, 2014 | Richard Balmforth and Natalia Zinets

[1rudeboy]

Up to 100,000 Ukrainians massed in the capital Kiev on Sunday in defiance of sweeping new laws aimed at stamping out anti-government protests.

The rally, the biggest this year in a cycle of pro-Europe protests convulsing the former Soviet republic for the past two months, was spurred by the legislation rushed through parliament last week and which the opposition says will lead to a police state.

Significantly raising the stakes in the confrontation with

President Viktor Yanukovich, opposition leaders announced a plan to gather people's signatures expressing no confidence in his leadership and that of parliament.

Denouncing as unconstitutional last Thursday's hurried vote in parliament by Yanukovich's supporters, they called for moves to set up a parallel structure of power - including a people's assembly and a new constitution.

"Yanukovich and his henchmen want to steal our country. Ukraine is united as never before in its struggle against those in power today, in its determination not to allow a dictatorship," declared boxer-turned politician Vitaly Klitschko, the strongest potential challenger for the presidency.

Though setting up an alternative power structure may not be realistic, Sunday's turn-out suggested it could also be difficult for the authorities to try to solve the crisis by use of force despite the court ban and the new laws.

Another opposition leader, far-right-nationalist Oleh Tyahnibok, dismissed the laws as unconstitutional as he spoke from the tribune on Kiev's main Independence Square.

[No One Special]

How rude of them ;-)

[yldstrk]

good

[1rudeboy]

I saw some funny photos where the people are wearing bowls and colanders on their heads to protest the ban on helmets.

[No One Special]

Bet you that sticks in pooty poot’s craw.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks 1rudeboy

[ETL]

A little Russia-Ukraine recent history...

I'm sure the Putin defenders will come after me for it. Screw them.

Yushchenko: Russia blocking poisoning probe
By Bonnie Malkin and agencies, September 12, 2007

Mr Yushchenko before and after the poisoning

"Mr [Viktor] Yushchenko, a pro-European politician who wanted to bring his country out of Russia's shadow, fell seriously ill on September 6, 2004 as he was competing in presidential elections against a pro-Moscow candidate, Viktor Yanukovich, now prime minister.

After months of tests in an Austrian clinic, it was determined that he had ingested a massive amount of the poison dioxin.

Although he survived, his face was left bloated and pockmarked, and he has had to undergo regular treatment to rid his body of the toxin.

In an interview with Le Figaro he said he believed the dioxin used to disfigure him was made in a Russian lab.

Mr Yushchenko did not directly accuse the Russian government of being behind his poisoning, but he did say he had 'practically put all the pieces together' and the attempt against him 'was not a private action'. ..."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1562838/Yushchenko-Russia-blocking-poisoning-probe.html
_____________________________________________________

"Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko (born February 23, 1954) [was] the third and [former] President of Ukraine". He took office on January 23, 2005.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Yushchenko
_______________________________________________________

(Ukraine) Hunt starts for Yushchenko's poisoner:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/1478922/Hunt-starts-for-Yushchenko%27s-poisoner.html
_____________________________________________________

pro-Moscow Viktor Yanukovich, new president of the Ukraine

[CincyRichieRich]

I don’t mind admitting I’m not quote informed; has Putin basically taken back Ukraine with ok by the Ukrainian government (now just a puppet to Putin) against the will of the people? And, 0bummer stood by and did nothing. I’m I close to accurate?

[mac_truck]

UPDATE: Protesters clash with police at large Ukraine rally

A group of young masked demonstrators attacked a cordon of police with sticks and tried to overturn a bus blocking their way to the parliament building after opposition politicians called on people to disregard the new legislation.

Despite appeals from opposition leaders not to resort to violence, and a personal intervention from boxer-turned-politician Vitaly Klitschko, protesters continued to throw smoke bombs and hurl fireworks and other objects at police.

The police appeared to show restraint during that fracas. The interior ministry said 30 police were hurt, including more than 10 admitted to hospital and four in serious condition.

More at the LINK

[1rudeboy]

Pretty much, but it gets complicated (as things always are): what you have is a significant portion of the population that is trying to break from Russia, and a significant portion that is trying to remain in Russia’s sphere. You have to scratch the surface of both sides to see where their loyalties are.

[Drew68]

what you have is a significant portion of the population that is trying to break from Russia, and a significant portion that is trying to remain in Russia’s sphere. You have to scratch the surface of both sides to see where their loyalties are.

It's the language. While pretty much all Ukrainians are bilingual in both Ukrainian and Russian, the language they speak at home will generally tell you where their loyalties lie. Russian speakers tend to be pro-Yanukovich, pro Russia. Ukrainian speakers tend to be anti Yanukovich, pro West.

It's very much a divided country.

[Eleutheria5]

Slavic Spring.

[huldah1776]

I have a question. Will the youth of our nation protest in this manner or are they wandering around like chickens with their heads cut off?

[jetson]

I have a question. Will the youth of our nation protest in this manner or are they wandering around like chickens with their heads cut off?

Probably through the internet, then in the streets if chaos results.

[mac_truck]

Did you have a problem with my label of the events in Ukraine or was it the pictures of the fires and broken windows that upset you?

[Eleutheria5]

I didn’t have any problem with your post. Whoever complained about it, it wasn’t I.

[mac_truck]

interesting...thanks.

[Eleutheria5]

Seems you weren't too far off in your label, either.

http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Jew-stabbed-in-Kiev-on-way-home-from-synagogue-338594

[NFHale]

“...Pro-Moscow Viktor Yanukovich...”

ETL, clarify for me please: By pro-Moscow, is that to mean that the current president Yanukovich is trying to rebuild communist control of the country and re-situate Ukraine as a satellite/vassal of Russia?

According to Wikipedia, this guy was a member of the Communist Party of Ukraine.

Political party:
Communist Party of Ukraine (Soviet Union) (Before 1991)[1]
Party of Regions (2003–2010)
Independent (2010–present)

Regarding Viktor Yuschenko: I remember the poisoning of this man, quite well. But HE was a member of the Communist Party as well (1980-1991).

Political party:
Our Ukraine (2005–present)
Other political
affiliations Our Ukraine-People’s Self-Defence Bloc (2001–2012)
Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1980–1991)

Confused as to who bad guys are here... I realize they were a one-party state (democrat - err, sorry, communist) and this was probably the norm...