Worsening conflict in Ukraine
- February 19th, 2014
- Posted by EU Australia
The conflict in Ukraine took on the look of civil war with this week 25 believed dead in the street conflicts between Opposition protesters and government riot police.
The barricades and piles of blazing tyres added extra drama to the scene around Independence Square in Kiev, where the troops edged against the other side, trying to drive them out of the area.
The wild rallies, trashing the ornately laid-out public space (picture), and the occupations of state buildings were demonstrations of determined intent to force the resignation of President, Viktor Yanukovych, since his repudiation of a process to build up an association between Ukraine and the European Union.
European leaders have been calling on all parties to still try and get a political solution to the conflict.
“I call upon President Yanukovych, the government together with the leaders of the opposition to find an immediate way out of this deepening crisis, and to continue the work to find a way to solve the political crisis through dialogue,” said Catherine Ashton, the EU High Commissioner, who has made repeated visits to Kiev in attempts to mediate.
“As I have said in each of the visits I have made, the European Union stands ready to help in any way that we can,” she said.
In times gone by it may have been time for the arrival of the Soviet tanks; to ensure the President, in the Russian corner, stays in command. Viktor Yanukovych, 63, was a leading politician from Ukraine’s time as part of the Soviet Union, still getting support from the “Russian”, Eastern side of his divided country. He’s blamed the other side for the troubles, stating that a call to arms this week by oppositionists would mean the outbreak of armed violence, that was “going too far”.
He has held the former Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, in gaol, under a conviction for corruption in office, for over two years – despite strong demands from Western governments that she be let go.
The campaign on behalf of the much-photographed prisoner is being led by her equally fetching daughter, Evgenia Tymoshenko, 33, on extended tours of world capitals.
“He is keeping her behind bars because he is afraid iof her, but at the same time he has made her more popular”, she says. Abroad, Ms Tymoshenko, daughter, was hosted by several support groups including the centre-right European People’s Party.
See video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nfzrSH_6TY&noredirect=1,(19.2.14).
In Australia she featured in a report from Kiev, on late-night current affairs, arguing the consensus has become, that her mother was the victim of a politically-motivated show trial.
See video: www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3942737.htm
See EUAustralia Online: Any help possible for Syria and Ukraine in crisis?, 3.2.14; Ukraine Crisis, Russia and the EU, 19.12.14; Ukraine Vote Aftermath, 5.12.14.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) have joined international condemnation of the murder of a journalist in Kiev and injuries to countless others during the latest violent outbreaks in Ukraine.
The IFJ and EFJ have called on all sides involved in the ongoing protests to end the deliberate targeting of journalists and to uphold the freedom and safety of media professionals who are doing their jobs and reporting on events that are in the public interest.
Reference
EPP, Brussels, Interview with Eugenia Tymoshenko , 21.12.13. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nfzrSH_6TY&noredirect=1, (19.2.14).
Euronews, Lyon, Ashton wants “constructive dialogue” to resolve Ukraine, 2.2.14. euronews.com/…/ashton-wants-constructive-dialogue-to-resolve-ukraine-…?, (19.2.14).
International Federation of Journalists, Brussels, Media Release, IFJ/EFJ Condemn Murder of Ukrainian Journalist, 19.02.14.
Le Monde, Paris, A Kiev, du sang, des cendres et la crainte d’un assaut final … (In Kiev, blood, fires and fears of a final assault …), 19.2.14. www.lemonde.fr …, (19.2.14).
Philip Williams, Prison has not dimmed popularity of former Ukraine PM, Lateline, ABC, Sydney, 11.2.14. www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3942737.htm, (19.2.14). Feb 11, 2014
Pictures wikipedia