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Russia without Ukraine is a country; |
During the Great War, Germany grabbed Ukraine
and Lenin took it back
During the Great Pariotic War, Germany grabbed Ukraine
and Stalin took it back
During the Winter Olympiad, Germany grabbed Ukraine
and Putin let it slip away
Ukraine Protests - 20 February 2014
At least 75 people have been killed in violent riots in Kiev, the Ukrainian Health Department stated 20 February 2014. Doctors working on Kiev’s Independence Square, however, claimed that as many as 70 people were killed on the rioters’ side alone on that day. The Ukrainian opposition claims that more than 100 protesters have been killed since the start of the violent riots, counting the wounded as “thousands.”
Fresh clashes erupted between anti-government protesters and police, hours after President Viktor Yanukovych announced a truce with opposition leaders. Some of those killed were reportedly shot by government snipers. Ukraine's acting interior minister said police had been armed with combat weapons. Both security forces and rioters were filmed stalking the streets with rifles. Until this week, Ukrainian riot police had been using non-lethal weapons, such as tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets.
The Ukrainian parliament voted against the anti-terrorism measures in the country, with 236 deputies casting their votes. The decision calls for a ceasefire and return of all security forces to their permanent deployment areas. The resolution also prohibits the use of firearms in certain situations and bans the blocking of public transport. President Yanukovich’s press service did not confirm the information regarding the head of state’s agreement to hold early elections this year. This followed a comment made by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said that Yanukovich did support the idea. “A [transitional] national unity government would be formed within 10 days and Ukraine’s Constitution would be amended by the summer,” Tusk said. Foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Poland reportedly obtained the agreement of the Ukrainian opposition over the roadmap plan for the solution to the ongoing unrest in the country.
A year later, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko accused the Kremlin February 20, 2015 of direct involvement in the sniper deaths of anti-Russian protesters in Kyiv's Maidan Square. He made the charge on the first anniversary of the killings, saying Ukraine's security services have the evidence. Poroshenko told relatives of some of those killed that "just a few days ago, the head of state security told me that special forces operatives gave evidence that Russian presidential aide Vladislav Surkov led the organization of groups of foreign snipers on the Maidan."
In December 2013, following a "well-known pattern of Colour Revolutions," the Euromaidan protest had turned from a peaceful demonstration to a violent uprising. The appearance and actions of US officials on Maidan Square provided some support for the charge that the US, as demonstrated by intercepted telephone call between Nuland and Pyatt, planned the overthrow of the Yanukovich government,
Right-wing political parties played key and violent roles in the Maidan Revolution. Though members of organised far-right political groups comprised a minority of protesters during the 2013-2014 Euromaidan Revolution, they nevertheless conducted violent attacks, such as the "Snipers' Massacre" that helped overthrow the pro-Russian government of Viktor Yanukovich. Some concluded that Euromaidan death squads operated from the "Office of the Region's Party" building during the "Snipers' Massacre", On 20 February 2014, mass killings of protesters took place, preceded by mass killings of police. The "Snipers' Massacre" arguably was the key turning point in Ukrainian politics. One hundred victims of Euromaidan were mythologised as the"Heavenly Hundred". President Poroshenko awarded the killed protesters "Hero of Ukraine" titles.
Ivan Katchanovski, a political studies expert at Ottawa University, conducted the most extensive investigation of the "Snipers' Massacre". He states, "This academic investigation concludes that "concealed shooters," most likely drawn from the Right Sector and Svoboda, "were located in at least 20 Maidan controlled buildings or areas." Quoting an interview given by a Maidan shooter to a Ukrainian newspaper, the Maidan shooter stated that "he was firing upon police from the Music Conservatory building for about 20 minutes around 6:00 a.m. and saw about 10 other Maidan shooters doing the same." A BBC investigation includes photos showing Maidan shooters armed with hunting rifles.
The Ukrainian government investigation identified members of the special company of Berkut as responsible for killings of the absolute majority of the protesters, but did not release any evidence in support, with the exception of videos of the massacre.
Katchanovski concluded "the massacre was a false flag operation, which was rationally planned and carried out with a goal of the overthrow of the government and seizure of power. It found various evidence of the involvement of an alliance of the far right organizations, specifically the Right Sector and Svoboda, and oligarchic parties, such as Fatherland. Concealed shooters and spotters were located in at least 20 Maidan-controlled buildings or areas."
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