Posted on 05/23/2014 9:22:01 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com
Donetsk is the largest city in eastern Ukraine, with a population of nearly a million people. But it appears that many -- if not most -- of its voters will not be able to take part in Ukraine's presidential election on May 25 because of the climate of fear separatists have established on the city's streets.
The fear is measurable in the scarcity of election campaign banners on main boulevards and the almost total absence of people handing out election flyers just days ahead of the vote.
Local journalists say the rare campaign banners that are visible belong almost entirely to a single party, the Party of Regions, which in recent years has been the strongest in eastern Ukraine. Its candidate is Mykhaylo Dobkin, who favors a united Ukraine but with greater independence for its regions and is widely regarded as more pro-Russia rather than pro-West.
Yet even his campaign workers have stayed off the street, journalists say, for fear of being attacked by militants of the separatist, self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. The separatists, who have declared the Donetsk region independent and urged Russia to annex it, have vowed to block the May 25 election and have been working hard to do so.
Oleksiy Matsuka, the editor of the "Novosti Donbassa" news site, says that armed militants have repeatedly broken into the campaign centers set up by the presidential candidates. "They smash equipment like fax and copying machines and computers and destroy election brochures," he says.
Matsuka, whose site is critical of the separatists, recently moved to an undisclosed location outside the city due to fears for his personal safety.
Climate Of Fear, Intimidation
The intimidation of campaign workers mirrors the intimidation of election commission staff. A member of the executive commission for one election district in Donetsk says that representatives of the Donetsk People's Republic visited his district's office on May 22.
Five men wearing flak jackets and carrying clubs demanded the election workers turn over boxes of ballot forms, claiming that "the people" were against preparations for the election. As other armed men stood outside, the visitors removed documentation that included the names and addresses of the commission members. They then presented the commission chairman with a receipt for the material seized.
Other election commission representatives say they have come under similar pressure.
Valeriy Dudarenko, deputy head of another local election commission in Donetsk, recently told the media he expected 60 out the 88 polling stations in his district to be working on May 25.
Ukrainian election officials said on May 23 that the separatists had so far seized more than half of the election commissions in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Kyiv has been encouraging local voters to register in neighboring areas outside of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, although the deadline to do so was May 19.
Constant Threat Of Violence
Local journalists say armed separatists have been able to do so much to disrupt preparations for the vote because they have effectively instituted a reign of terror in the city.
Olena Zashko, an RFE/RL Ukrainian Service correspondent in Donetsk, says the armed militants mainly keep to the area of the regional administration building they have seized downtown and its adjacent park. But when they do move outside of their base, they do so with a level of deliberate violence that terrifies ordinary citizens.
The intimidation strategy has been on full display as pro-unity supporters have gained new energy recently from the decision of regional powerbroker and tycoon Rinat Akhmetov to stand by Kyiv. Akhmetov, who controls the Donbas region's steel and mining industry, has condemned the separatists as "thugs" and called for peaceful rallies against them.
Yet when hundreds of pro-unity supporters attended a rally in Donetsk's Donbas Arena stadium on May 20, separatist militants reportedly waited on the outskirts of the event to ambush individuals who separated from the crowd, beating them with hammers.
Journalists say similar risks await cars that participate in now daily shows of support for Ukrainian unity by driving through the city at noon blaring their horns. Thugs waiting on street corners hurl rocks at the cars or race out to smash their windshields with bats. "I saw with my own eyes how the separatists chased two cars, attacked and destroyed them completely," RFE/RL's Zashko says.
Residents say the most feared institution in Donetsk today is the regional administration building, which the separatists have occupied for six weeks. The 11-story facility that serves as headquarters for the Donetsk People's Republic is ringed by barricades and barbed wire, and has become notorious for the interrogations and beatings rumored to take place on its fifth and sixth floors.
People targeted by the separatists are snatched off the streets of Donetsk in broad daylight by men in balaclavas and taken into the building. Those who were later released say they were repeatedly beaten, abused, and threatened with death for opposing the self-declared republic
Thanks
The only way you know of this is through FR. Have yet to hear of any of this through our media.
Thanks
The only way you know of this is through FR. Have yet to hear of any of this through our media.
BING TRANSLATION: Sergey Jamb, pastor and coordinator of the prayer tent in Donetsk.
There are problems, but it could be worse, most importantly, stayed alive, no fractures ... Badly beaten with whips and batons.
Anyone that knows God: it is necessary to intensify prayers. The impression is that the seven evil have gotten into separatists. Hatred, cruelty, anger, going wild.
This kind goeth out by prayer and fasting. I propose to maximize prayer.
Furthermore... it's all over the news and the Internet that the Kiev Government and the Right Sector have been 'bombing the East' “all week”long....even FR has threads of this and videos/photos showing so.
Additionally even one of the Presidential Candidates claimed responsibility for some of the artillery shelling of tanks...and we all know other Oligarchs have their militias running wild in the east.
There are many questions of who is doing what...what we do know is there are swarms of armed militias there, hired by various people, Kiev Army and who they hire, and the Right Sector all fighting there and all have a political agenda.........some want to see enough bloodshed to "force" war between Russia and the US.....others want war because they can't fight and win without some major country coming in with them.........the people/citizens want everyone but there own fighters out of there.
And then to lay blame on any one group is beyond ridiculous when even the fighters can't tell each other apart!
To add more to the problems...Kiev Government and the Right Sector, who have been working together, now have a great deal of political infighting between them which began in the last couple weeks.
If you back up to a couple weeks ago...Many cities in the East who voted for the referendum wanted and were given the green flag they could vote in the Pres. election. But after Keiv's army began shelling and destroying their communities buildings, and shooting at their people, they made it clear they were not going to vote because of the shelling...which has only escalated.
Right Sector wants to retain their Government representation.....and they have feared if the East votes it would deter their agenda....the right sector favors Yulia T. who has stated if she doesn't win the Pres. position she would rise her people for another Maidan Protest. She knows who has the majority now and it isn't her...in fact she's trending far behind the frontrunner. She is as ruthless and cunning as any other and will stop at nothing to regain her power in the Government.
So there is no way any can point to 'who' is causing fear in the East....when you have the area saturated with militia's, Keiv's army , hired thugs, and all the nutcases that have jumped on the bandwagons for the thrill of fighting.
And still, the dying goes on.
Ukrainian mothers in Western blocked a crossing into Poland yesterday, to protest their kids being conscripted and sent straight to war with no training.
The Horlivka rebel group is going after the Right Sector Donbas militia, hard.
Several reports that the Donetsk Airport fell to the rebels tonight.
The Ukrainian Army is a real mess, they can’t seem to even feed their troops in the field, and Defections are WAY up. Shooting your own people that refuse to fire on civilians will do that. Several rumors via twitter that the Army in the Southeast may be near a full-scale revolt.
And tonight, there are several reports that the Slovyansk group has gone on the offensive, after the shelling of civilian areas of the city yesterday. Per several tweets in the last hour or so, the 51st Airmobile Brigade is surrounded, and contact with the HQ has been lost, they aren’t responding to radio calls.
And all of this could have been easily avoided. A lesson Europe seems to be learning, a bit too late.
And I don’t think the election is going to solve much, because I just don’t see RightSector/Svoboda handing over power without even more bloodshed.
The Two leading Pres. candidates.. Poroshenko and Yulia Tymoshenko are bitter rivals and have had on ongoing feud since the Orange Revolution......Tymoshenko believes and claimed publicaly she is the “only one” who can save Ukraine....now that it looks like her bitter rival is going to get the Presidency she is going to do all she can to prevent it.....Eastern Ukraine would vote for her rival.
If Poroshenko wins the election, I just don’t see any that RightSector/Svoboda gives up the hold on the Kiev Government without a fight.
And I certainly don’t think there is any way that Igor Kolomoisky steps down voluntarily.
Militia backed by ‘presidential candidate Oleh Lyashko’ takes credit for assassination of separatists...reported here in the Gov. run Keiv Post:
I have tried to make it clear that Ukraine Politics is vicious and brutal but I think people still can’t grasp the degree these people will go to....including hiring armed militias to create fear and chaos. ...and even war if it takes that.
Thank you for the summary of the latest... like you I do try to keep abreast of what’s happening....I saw the separtists had surrounded the airport earlier today but didn’t know they had taken it.....and I knew militias are fighting each other but difficult to tell which ones...so thanks for some clarity in a very messy battlefield....I just read about the 51st Brigade being surrounded.....I suspect more throughout the night as the push by Keiv Gov. and Right Sector is pretty much in full swing.
Unfortunately the citizens are being shot in the crossfire...then you have the criminal element hurting people because they can hide in the fog of war. Terrible mess....war always is and the innocent do suffer and die.
The “little writing men” on the net
Many have seen and and are now seeing the collapse of several generations of Russian liars and know
for sure that the truth cannot do anything but triumph in a civilised country, in the long run.
Not on in Russia, but possibly in Ukraine.............
And if the lie wins–then you get such darkness, such madness, such a triumph of the scumbags,
that it really does not matter who you are in that country–a journalist, a miner or a FR putinista,
. The main thing is–you are not a citizen, but a lying slave, there is no country, just a kingdom
of lies. Like Russia.
And I understand for sure that the people who today pose as impartial and yet sow hatred, lies, and division
received such a task from their owners–to turn us into Russia. Every scumbag tries hard where they are–
the “little green men” in Crimea, the “little subversive men” in Sloviansk, and
the “little writing men” on the net.....
The “little writing men” on the net
Many have seen and and are now seeing the collapse of several generations of Russian liars and know
for sure that the truth cannot do anything but triumph in a civilised country, in the long run.
Not on in Russia, but possibly in Ukraine.............
And if the lie wins–then you get such darkness, such madness, such a triumph of the scumbags,
that it really does not matter who you are in that country–a journalist, a miner or Free Republic putinista,
. The main thing is–you are not a citizen, but a lying slave, there is no country, just a kingdom
of lies. Like Russia.
And I understand for sure that the people who today pose as impartial and yet sow hatred, lies, and division
received such a task from their owner–to turn
Ukraine into Russia.
Every scumbag tries hard where they are–
the “little green men” in Crimea,
the “little subversive men” in Sloviansk, and
the “little writing men” on the net.....
I think Poroshenko has it wrapped up for Pres. He’ll have a mess in the Gov. for the reasons you stated...Svoboda is NOT going to hand over their reins by any means....as soon as the US leaves the Gov. on it’s own they will be at each throats and more than likely a continued mess as in the past.
Kolomoisky has more than enough to pay his way to any who might oppose him...the bribes will not stop because there’s a new President....they’re all on the take to the one who pays most...and Kolomoisky’s got it to throw around wherever he desire. Known to bribe Judges and then some as well. He is one crooked,corrupt individual...known as ‘Mafia’ of Ukraine...which is why he’s so vicious and doesn’t blink.
Every scumbag tries hard where they are–
the “little green men” in Crimea,
the “little subversive men” in Sloviansk, and
the “little writing men” on the net.....
They want to destroy the elections...
.....During the Maidan protests where he paid for food, water and firewood for protesters, he was careful to play both sides. He stated clearly..... “Russia isn't our opponent, but our partner,” .... “Understand, Euro-Maidan is not a movement away from Russia, but from the Soviet Union.”
Putin saw that in one of the Russian Newspapers no doubt so I think he figures he can work with him....as it needs to be for Ukraines sake.....the thorn in everyones side will be Private Sector.
I think possible enough will be discovered, when the dust settles, that the RightSector is to blame for so many deaths and destruction that Poroshenko will get enough support to get them out of Government for that.....but it won't be easily done.
“Russia isn’t our opponent, but our partner-
That is outright stupid......
Sounds like he’ll be screwed over by Putin....
.....Every scumbag tries hard where they are–
the “little green men” in Crimea,
the “little subversive men” in Sloviansk, and
the “little writing men” on the net.....
They want to destroy Ukraine...
“They want to destroy Ukraine...”
Your bias is showing, yet again.
Nobody on FR wants to “Destroy Ukraine”. But, given how deeply the Obama Administration is involved in all of this, the LAST thing I’m going to trust are a bunch of Obama-backed wanna-be Nazi’s, that took over the government in a violent coup.
Or have you forgotten how all the Dem pundits went on air after Putin made a fool of Obama over Syria, saying “there are other ways to get at Putin!”. Well, you are seeing the results of them “trying to get at Putin”.
The events since the fall of the government have spoken for themselves, for the most part.
Who are the rebels? I'm trying to follow this. The Russians/pro-Russian say the government are the rebels. The pro-Ukraine (Nationalists) say the pro-Russians are the rebels.
Then the...I don't know what.
It looks a lot like Bosnia/Serbia in 1994.
Everybody was Mafiya.
That’s about the best summary I’ve seen to date; only leaves out the machinations of the US/EU and whoever else. But as far as the various factions and elements within Ukraine, it could not be said better. I’ll copy it!
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