	Generational Dynamics
	Forecasting America's Destiny ... and the World's

\| HOME \| WEB LOG \| COUNTRY WIKI \| COMMENT \| FORUM \| DOWNLOADS \| ABOUT \|

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 2-Feb-2014
2-Feb-14 World View -- Torture of Ukraine dissident polarizes U.S.-Russia relations

Web Log - February, 2014

2-Feb-14 World View -- Torture of Ukraine dissident polarizes U.S.-Russia relations

Ukraine protests lead to further crackdown on free speech in Russia

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

Ukrainian activist back from the dead, beaten but alive
Torture of Ukraine dissident polarizes U.S.-Russia relations
Ukraine protests lead to further crackdown on free speech in Russia

Ukrainian activist back from the dead, beaten but alive

Dmytro Bulatov

Dmytro Bulatov

The anti-government protests in Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine, have been simmering since late November, growing into violence within the last two weeks. But now it's turned into a major proxy political shouting match between Russia and the West, because Dmytro Bulatov, a 35 year old opposition activist, who had been presumed killed two weeks ago, was found alive in a Kiev suburb, where he had been dumped, severely scarred and missing part of one ear. He said that he had been kidnapped, and then tortured and beaten for a week by men with Russian accents. Ukraine's pro-Russian government is denying any complicity in the kidnapping and torture, but it's widely assumed that the men with the Russian accents were government thugs.

The anti-government protests began on November 21 after the president, Viktor Yanukovych, did a major flip-flop and refused to sign a trade deal with the European Union, after saying for months that would sign. The move was seen as turning away from Europe, and turning toward Russia, which displeased the ethnic Ukrainians in the east, but pleased the ethnic Russians in the west. This view was reinforced when Russia's president Vladimir Putin offered Ukraine a $15 billion loan, thought to be incentive to encourage Yanukovych to join Putin's Eurasian Customs Union.

The protests had been dying down until January 16, when the parliament passed a harsh new law restricting protests and freedom of speech. The protests became larger and more violent, and remain so until this day, even though Yanukovych has made several concessions since then: His prime minister and cabinet have all resigned, and the anti-protest law has been repealed. However, the protesters see these concessions as a sign of weakness, and are demanding the resignation of Yanukovych. Yanukovych has been out of sight for a week with "the flu," but aides say he's refusing to resign.

The reappearance of activist leader Bulatov, apparently back from the dead but badly beaten, once again escalated the protests.

There had been some initial reports that Bulatov, who is recuperating in the hospital, was going to be arrested on charges related to his anti-government activism, but government officials say that they are only detaining him in order to protect him. Kyiv Post and Interfax-Ukraine

Torture of Ukraine dissident polarizes U.S.-Russia relations

The news of the torture of Dmytro Bulatov was a bombshell that hit in the middle of a long-scheduled security conference being held in Munich. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with opposition leaders and said on Saturday in Munich that the U.S. and the European Union supported the people of Ukraine as they sought a stronger democracy, and should not be coerced into associating with one country (Russia). According to Kerry:

"[The people of Ukraine are] fighting for the right to associate with partners who will help them realize their aspirations. They have decided that means their futures do not have to lie with one country alone, and certainly not coerced. The United States and EU stand with the people of Ukraine in that fight."

Kerry has apparently sided with the opposition, and is receiving criticism because he seems to be saying that it's democracy to overthrow a democratically elected government through street demonstrations.

According to Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, also speaking in Munich on Saturday:

"What does the inciting of street protests, which are growing increasingly violent, have to do with promoting democratic principles?
Why do we not hear statements of condemnation toward those who seize government buildings, attack and burn police officers, and voice racist and anti-Semitic slogans? Why do senior European politicians de facto encourage such actions, while at home they swiftly and harshly act to stop any impingement on the letter of the law?"

It's funny to see Lavrov, a man with no morals whatsoever, claim outrage and try to take a moral stand. He might have been reminded that Russia invaded Georgia in 2008, and annexed two Georgian provinces.

The Ukraine situation has grown from a local matter involving anti-government demonstrators into a major international disagreement between Russia and the West. Al-Jazeera and Russia Today

Ukraine protests lead to further crackdown on free speech in Russia

Russian state TV is claiming that Russia's liberal news outlets "are the leaders of a fifth column that is preparing a Kyiv-style ‘Maidan’ revolution in Moscow," financed by Russian enemies in the West. The most immediate target is a Moscow-based independent TV cable news channel Dozhd (meaning "Rain"). On January 26, Dozhd ran a panel and asked viewers to vote if Leningrad (today St. Petersburg), besieged during World War II by Nazi troops, should have surrendered to save civilian lives (the siege or blockade of Leningrad lasted from 1941 to 1944 and more than a million civilians died, mainly from starvation). The St. Petersburg prosecutor’s office announced it has begun an official investigation of Dozhd: "To determine if the channel has crossed the line of permissibility during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the end of the blockade of Leningrad." Many cable services are dropping Dozhd from their lineups, and Pravda has called the Dozhd channel a liberal outpost run by Jews, homosexuals and "insects." The Ukraine protests are generating an almost hysterical reaction in Moscow, and splitting the power base of president Vladimir Putin, as Putin himself is taking a cautious approach, while nationalists and revisionists desperately call for a more aggressive, interventionist policy in Ukraine. Undoubtedly, the question of Russian military intervention in Ukraine is at least being considered in Moscow. Jamestown

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 2-Feb-14 World View -- Torture of Ukraine dissident polarizes U.S.-Russia relations thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (2-Feb-2014) Permanent Link
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Donate to Generational Dynamics via PayPal

Web Log Pages

Current Web Log

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 2-Feb-2014 2-Feb-14 World View -- Torture of Ukraine dissident polarizes U.S.-Russia relations

Ukrainian activist back from the dead, beaten but alive

Torture of Ukraine dissident polarizes U.S.-Russia relations

Ukraine protests lead to further crackdown on free speech in Russia

Web Log Pages

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 2-Feb-2014
2-Feb-14 World View -- Torture of Ukraine dissident polarizes U.S.-Russia relations