Revolution! – Maidan 2013 – 2016

The feelings of hope and anger, anticipation and desperation began to quake deep in the hearts, minds and spirits of Ukrainians. Twenty-two years after the latest declaration of independence of their Ukraine, the nation was not to be deprived of their dream of living in a country of their choice, free of Russian imperialism and subjugation and heading toward Europe, not back into the Russian prison of nations.

They were not to be stopped, not by their corrupt, treacherous President Viktor Yanukovych or by his mentor Russian fuhrer Vladimir Putin.

In the fall of 2013, when Yanukovych began to exhibit his true turncoat colors and reject the aspirations of the nation, Ukrainians from every corner of their country, from villages and towns to major metropolises, Ukrainian speakers and non-Ukrainian speakers, Christians, Jews, Muslims and others started their trek to the capital, determined to strike their chord for Ukraine’s freedom.

The chapters quickly unfolded: Ukraine’s subjugation by Russia, the nation’s desire for accession to the European Union, Yanukovych’s acquiescence, Putin’s opposition and finally Yanukovych’s last-minute reversal. The nation couldn’t stand the government’s duplicity and subservience to Moscow. The people demanded that the accession process go forward and that ex-convicts like Yanukovych by removed from power.

The first Lenin statue that tumbled to cobblestones of a Kyiv street three years ago marked not only the inevitable end of Yanukovych’s reign as Putin’s governor but also the nation’s most recent reaffirmation of its predecessors’ independence struggles and proclamations.

It was nothing else than the Ukrainian nation’s latest revolution against foreign and domestic captivity and tyranny.

With the world watching events in Ukraine unravel, cheering as the beleaguered but undaunted nation fight for its existence, and fearing a Russian counterattack, more than a million men, women and youth came to Kyiv’s Maidan to defend their independence and sovereignty. Defying incredible logistical problems, the protesters – no, Ukrainian revolutionaries – were clothed, fed, housed, cared for and mourned by strangers who came together in a historical exhibition of national unity.

In a brief commentary in the December 2, 2013, edition of The Torn Curtain 1991, titled “Revolution,” I wrote:

“Yuriy Lutsenko declared it yesterday, demonstrators echoed it and by now many news outlets have picked it up as the identifying motto of today’s Ukraine.

“Rightly so. The nation is fed up with Yanukovych’s policies. He has disgraced and discredited himself and his regime and going forward will not be treated seriously by other governments or institutions. And he has bloodied the nation.

“Ukrainians from all corners of Ukraine have been staging demonstrations in their towns or descending on Kyiv to express their protest.

“As we said last week, the US and other countries should institute sanctions against Yanukovych and his cabal to force them from office. This would be a worthy sign of support for Euromaidan.”

The nation did not budge from their positions despite rumors of a Russian military infiltration. Winter was setting it and Russian storm troopers on rooftops began shooting peaceful protesters. Other Putin security officers forced captured protesters to strip naked in the frigid weather. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) arrived on the scene to offer his and America’s moral support to Ukraine’s fight for freedom.

The nation stubbornly persevered.

In another brief commentary on December 9, 2013, I opined:

“In memory of Nelson Mandela and in tribute to Euromaidan:

‘When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.’ 
“Toppling the Lenin statue was not the goal but it was a major symbolic feat for Ukraine and the ex-captive nations. It was also a warning for Russia. As Georgia’s Saakashvili said at Euromaidan, Ukraine’s triumph will be Russia’s final chapter.

“Yanukovych is discredited and disgraced in Ukraine and around the world.

“So far the demonstrators are peaceful and have peacefully endured the brutal attacks by the police. At the same time Prime Minister Azarov is warning of a coup d’état and state of emergency.

“Before that happens, Yanukovych should heed the pleas of Euromaidan and leave office quietly.”

Putin’s gauleiter his henchmen finally fled to Russia and other hideouts.

Before the end of the year, the Maidan revolutionaries issued their own appeal to the world titled “Arise, Ukraine,” declaring their principals and goals. They affirmed:

“People of the World! The events of recent days have shown everyone that Ukrainian authorities have embarked on an unconstitutional course.

“Dispersal of peaceful demonstrations, beatings, courts manipulated by the ruling powers have undermined the Constitution of Ukraine, which declares that life, health, honor and dignity of citizens of Ukraine are the highest values of the state. Today, in the course of two hours, Ukrainian authorities, through the militia and the specialized police squad Berkut have been destroying democratic values and people’s right to peaceful assembly. It is symbolic that this took place immediately upon the completion of International Human Rights Day. They are detaining peaceful protesters, journalists are prevented from doing their jobs. Democracy in Ukraine is in danger! Free people of the country are in danger! Is this comprehended by politicians of the world, human rights activists, journalists, and people of good will?

“Ukraine! Arise, Euromaidan is summoning you!

“Everyone to the peaceful protests! Everyone who is at home telephone all churches and monasteries across the country and ask for the bells to toll. Kyiv large, Ukraine large and not all in Maidan can hear. But let the world hear: democracy in Ukraine at risk, but the Ukrainian people cannot be broken. Ring the church bells, let Europe hear and witness how they are destroying Kyivan Maidan.

“Together till the end!”

As has become Ukraine’s destiny, Maidan substantiated Thomas Jefferson’s adage about courage and liberty: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots.”

The historic images of the Ukrainian nation arising against foreign and domestic tyrants three years ago this week and manifesting its invincible will to live free as well as the accompanying emotions were rekindled today with the jubilant commemorative demonstrations in Kyiv and other Ukrainian towns.

We recall the numerous parades, speeches, rallies, fires, dedication, police depravity and barbarism, beatings, bravery, heroism, patriotism, gunshots, and blood that contributed to the nation’s victory.

Subsequent generations of Russians will have to answer a host of muted questions about their country’s role in trying to quash liberty in Ukraine just like today’s Germans are attempting to cope with the legacy of Nazism. Likewise, future generations will have a glimpse of one episode – Maidan – from a millennium of examples of Ukrainians’ unconquerable, freedom-loving spirit to live in their own independent, sovereign, democratic and indivisible Ukraine.

Social media was the instrument for capacity building in Kyiv. It summoned Ukrainians of all walks of life to Kyiv to voice their disgust and opposition to Russia’s corrupt, anti-Ukrainian colonial administrators in Ukraine. National opposition swelled from a few hundred protesters in the center of the capital to several thousand to more than a million, testifying that this was, in fact, a popular, national revolution for freedom.

The nation once again awakened to stop those who sought to subvert Ukraine’s fate. The marchers emphasized that Ukraine, as a European nation, is part of the European Union and the nation’s youngest generation demanded that Ukraine finds its rightful place among European countries and not in the Russian prison of nations.

The protesters were emboldened into believing that they could change the country. Fed up with Yanukovych’s corruption and submission to Moscow, their movement evolved into a revolution whose goal was to depose the government and liberate Ukraine from Russia’s bonds. Their daring and power grew from their unwavering national beliefs and expanding numbers. They were determined to fight for Ukraine and that victory would be theirs.

Busloads of demonstrators from across Ukraine participated. Doctors from around the country came to Kyiv to treat the wounded and dying. Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian speakers, including Russian speakers, were equally vocal in their disdain for Moscow’s subjugation of Ukraine. Serhiy Nigoyan, an Armenian, was the first to shed his blood for Ukraine’s freedom. Among the Maidan Defense Units were Jewish Maidan Defense Unit and Women’s Maidan Defense Unit. All religious hierarchs, representing the broad swath of faiths of Ukraine, Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, Moslem, Buddhist and others prayed in unison for the nation’s salvation. Teenagers and even younger Ukrainians in t-shirts emblazoned with the Ukrainian national emblem – the Tryzub – and images of national heroes Bandera and Shukhevych, were actively involved in the movement.

Then there was also the upright blue-and-yellow piano and scores of pianists that kept everyone’s spirits high.

The revolutionaries maintained the highest level of moral behavior during the revolution. Drugs and alcohol were not seen in their encampments. The participants were peaceful and unarmed as they faced the depraved barbarism of the Berkut security officers as they repeatedly charged into the nonviolent protesters wildly swinging their truncheons without regard for life or limb. For the first time since 1240, the bells of the St. Michael Sobor tolled anxiously, summoning more and more people to join the protests on Maidan.

Despite repeated waves of baton-wielding officers, the revolutionaries persevered. None of the protesters broke rank and fled. They were committed to their mission, realistically noting that if they abandon their cause now, eventually they would be hunted down and eliminated. In a comical, futile effort to protect themselves against the police, protesters covered their heads with kitchen utensils, pots, pans and colanders.

The Revolution of Dignity as it is called today lasted 93 days during which 125 innocent, peaceful Ukrainians of all walks of life were murdered on the orders of officials in the Kremlin and Kyiv. They indisputably earned the moniker “Heavenly Hundred.”

Infuriated by the slow evolution of events, Volodymyr Parasiuk, a young defense unit commander, seized a historic moment, jumped on the stage and grabbed the microphone. He declared that Yanukovych must present himself to the crowd on Maidan and resign by 10 am the next day or else he would lead the nation in storming his multi-million dollar estate and removing him by force.

Yanukovych secretly fled to Russia the next day, February 22, and almost simultaneously the Russian army invaded the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine and then regions in eastern Ukraine. The fight for Ukraine’s freedom continues and the men and women in the Ukrainian armed forces, fighting and dying in the eastern oblasts, are not doing so for the government but for Maidan, the nation and Ukraine.

Maidan symbolizes the generation that stood on Maidan for three months and faced the enemy without weapons. It was the latest generation of Ukrainian patriots to refresh the tree of liberty with their blood.

Had the revolution never occurred, Maidan would have remained a simple municipal concrete, brick and marble plaza. However, with the revolution, Maidan and everything that the simple word evokes today and tomorrow will always signify glory for the Ukrainian nation and eternal shame for Russia.

Will Trump Preserve Ukraine’s Independence & Sovereignty?

Several weeks before the 2016 Presidential Elections that saw Donald Trump achieve an astounding, historic victory over Hillary Clinton, Newt Gingrich, his stalwart advocate, assured Ukrainians and the world that President Trump would support selling lethal weapons to Ukraine.

A simple business decision for the billionaire businessman-turned politician?

Gingrich didn’t allude to that conclusion nor did he state that Trump is a genuine supporter of Ukraine’s independence. In a conversation with Yuriy Panchenko during the 13th annual meeting of Yalta European Strategy (YES) that appeared in the Ukrainian e-magazine European Pravda, the former Speaker of the House, said he and Trump have opposed the ban on selling Ukraine lethal weapons with which it could defend itself against Russian aggression.

“I am sure that the Ukrainian people have the right to defend themselves and their country. Conducting assistive policy towards Ukraine only ‘in words,’ without giving appropriate modern weapons for protection is a defeat for the United States. Trump will make it different.” Gingrich assured.

Trump’s advocate and adviser repeated this view, saying “we can say for sure that President Trump would ‘unlock’ the issue of weapons in favor of Ukraine. Trump can say nice things about Putin, but in the meantime, he will sell Ukraine arms.”

Gingrich concluded his remarks about Ukraine by emphasizing that “Yes, most likely, the weapons would be sold. I think that Ukraine will be asked to delay payments.”

Can Ukrainians, Ukrainian Americans, Russians and the global community really expect the Trump Administration to live up to this line of thinking? Sadly, there is nothing in Trump’s record that says the incoming President will support such a compulsory sale while at the same time his friend in Moscow will pursue global belligerence.

Unfortunately for the global community, American conservatives and neoconservatives, with a few exceptions, as well as Trump supporters, adhere to an “America First” mojo to the exclusion of all other countries. In the interview that I cited previously, Gingrich exactly pointed that “Mr. Trump intends to put the American interest in first place. US interests first, and then – negotiations with other countries. Today US interests are influenced by some confusing international programs.”

This rabid, blind form of isolationism is dangerous for everyone. Focusing on America to that degree will not only turn the US into an impenetrable fortress surrounded by two huge bodies of water, blind and deaf to others, but it can also give rise to global threats like Russia and ISIS. It will abandon Ukraine and the other x-captive nations to the aggressive whims of Russia, whose intentions cannot be overlooked – again.

In Trump’s record there is the Paul Manafort specter, which polluted the traditional pro-captive nations ideology of the Republican Party and indeed all of America. His pro-Russian meddling in the GOP platform during the convention reduced support for Ukraine to drivel.

Throughout the campaign, candidate Trump failed to address adequately his relationship with Russian fuhrer Vladimir Putin, denying in the face of his own contradictory statements that he knew the Russian leader.

Trump must also refute his callous disregard for Russia’s invasion and occupation of Crimea and reassert support for sanctions against Moscow until it withdraws from invaded Ukrainian regions.

Then after winning the elections, Trump began appointing or considering men and women for administration and cabinet posts, satisfying some and upsetting others. National security adviser Michael T. Flynn seems to regard Putin in the same light as does his boss. Mitt Romney, a possible secretary of state choice, and Mike Pompeo, the next CIA director, believe Putin is a tyrant and global threat.

In reality, based on Trump’s intolerable character, all of them will toe the line with Trump or he’ll fire them.

Finally, Trump’s talking points about US-Russia relations point to his total misjudgment about the evil empire. In the aftermath of the let’s makeup telephone call between Putin and Trump last week, the coverage highlighted the unsatisfactory state of relations and their will to normalize them. The Kremlin cheered that the two leaders will strive “to normalize them and bring them to the framework of constructive cooperation. Stressed was, among other things, the importance of the creation of a stable foundation for bilateral relations by developing their trade and market component.”

Yes, US relations with Russia have been strained but not by anything that Washington initiated but because of Moscow’s rampant militarization and uncontrolled imperialism. By building bridges between Moscow and Washington for the sake of friendship and commerce, Trump must accept Russia’s crimes and shake Putin’s blood-stained hands.

Trump’s complete disregard for Russia’s ongoing belligerence demonstrates his naiveté or ambivalence about Russia’s crimes against humanity. As President of the United States – he has removed himself from the moniker of leader of the free world because of his isolationist bent – he cannot continuously deny in the face of irrefutable evidence that Russia violates human rights, murders its opponents, and invades its neighbors.

Ukraine’s fate inside The Beltway will depend on the strongly-worded, supportive congressional resolutions. Senators and congressman are already banding around pro-Ukrainian campaigns that must be conspicuously supported by freedom-loving Americans.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), among others, last week warned against any attempt to revise US-Russia relations under Trump’s presidency.

“With the US presidential transition underway, Vladimir Putin has said in recent days that he wants to improve relations with the United States. We should place as much faith in such statements as any other made by a former KGB agent who has plunged his country into tyranny, murdered his political opponents, invaded his neighbors, threatened America's allies, and attempted to undermine America’s elections,” McCain said in a statement.

Senior Democratic and GOP lawmakers are insisting that Washington respond to Russia’s interference in the US election and actions in Ukraine and Syria, despite Trump’s hope to improve relations.

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) said last week he was working on what he described as “comprehensive” legislation to respond to Russian actions contrary to U.S. interests in Europe and Syria, as well as cyberattacks blamed on Moscow during the campaign.

“Russia presents a very serious challenge for America. They're not our partner. They're a bully,” Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said.

“I therefore ask Trump to take seriously the assessments from our intelligence community and security professionals regarding Russia’s actions. I implore the Trump administration to see Russia for what it is — a global bully and adversary. And I encourage the incoming national security leadership to understand who our real friends and true allies are, and that they count on us to provide leadership against Moscow’s aggression,” Cardin said.

Other lawmakers have also called for action against Russia. Sen. Lindsey Graham (S-SC), one of his party’s senior foreign policy voices, told reporters he wanted Senate hearings on whether Putin interfered in US election. “We can’t sit on the sidelines,” Graham said.

Trump’s unforeseen election to the presidency of the United States has panicked the x-captive nations.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he has “no doubt” that Trump will refuse to recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and will cooperate with his country.

When asked about the possibility of “an agreement” with Trump and Putin about recognizing Crimea, Poroshenko responded: “I am absolutely sure that the new president-elect is completely strong enough in an effective cooperation with Ukraine … no doubt.”

Hopefulness without back up.

Former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has sought to assuage Ukrainian and Baltic fears about the incoming President’s risky policies, saying: “The Baltics and Ukraine are close friends of the US, and neglecting them will have far-reaching consequences and mark the beginning of the end of the US-led system.”

At the same time European leaders reaffirmed their strong support for continuing sanctions against Russia until it withdraws from occupied Ukrainian territories, sending a hopeful message to the new White House about its convictions.

Lithuania warned that Putin may test NATO in the weeks before Trump is inaugurated as President. Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said he was “very afraid” for the Baltics and other regions, as well as the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Back home, President Obama added his point of view about Trump’s policies toward Russia, stating he hoped his successor “is willing to stand up to Russia when they deviate from our values and international norms.”

The next four years do not look good for Ukraine and the other former captive nations. After decades, even centuries of captivity in Russia’s prison of nations and only a few years in freedom, losing them on Trump’s watch will be an astounding, catastrophic stain on the 45^th President’s legacy.

Freedom loving peoples in the United States and around the world will have to keep a close watch on Trump’s steps – or missteps – in handling Russia’s belligerence and then, if necessary, fight him tooth and nail for changes.