Ukraine protests turn to violence.

[Octavusprime]

Not sure why this hasn't been a topic for discussion but Kiev and other cities in the Ukraine are now in full scale social unrest. What initially started as peaceful protest due to financial dealings with Russia vs joining the EU union has quickly escalated to all out rioting with police. The region is at the brink of a civil war.

Both Russia and the protestors are demanding the US to stay out of it. This could be another battlefield much like Syria where the west provides covert support for toppling a regime that is aligning with Russia and it's allies.

The Cold War is said to be over but in my eyes it is as present as ever. The US/EU power struggle vs Russia/China is getting more obvious.

The spark that really started this fire is the recent ban on protesting.

UnY6WK9ZxBE

The following is a live feed of the protests/riots from 1/22/14. It's long but there are some intense scenes showing the escalation. By the end of the video the protesters are burning tires and throwing petrol bombs at the police.

5V_Utg-xFes

Over 200 police injured and 4 protesters killed. (Graphic)

wEKviJYIlJ4

Unfortunately peaceful protests are a magnet for radicals who come to such events to start violence.

[Cristian]

http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/334279/slide_334279_3346489_free.jpg
http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/334279/slide_334279_3346485_free.jpg
http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/334279/slide_334279_3346482_free.jpg
http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/334279/slide_334279_3346469_free.jpg
http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/334279/slide_334279_3346481_free.jpg

More (http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/22/pictures-central-kiev-protests_n_4645476.html)

[Cristian]

Ukraine protests: what exactly is going on in Kiev?

from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ukraine-protests-what-exactly-is-going-on-in-kiev-9083107.html



Over the past week shocking pictures have emerged from the Ukraine's capital, Kiev.
Plumes of black smoke billow over the city, fires rage in the scorched skeletons of cars, and hundreds have been wounded, with two confirmed dead. Hordes of riot police are on the streets and the EU's justice chief has said the country is sliding towards civil war. Unless you've been following the events from the beginning it's difficult to glean why tensions are now strained to breaking point. Here's the basics.

Why are people protesting?

It's been going on for two months. In November President Viktor Yanukovych decided to pull out of a treaty with EU, an agreement many felt would have paved the way for the Ukraine to join the union. It looked like he was going to sign the agreement before performing a U-turn, which has made Ukrainian disappointment all the sharper. However the government would rather stay friendly with Putin in return for favourable treatment. The protesters think it would benefit ordinary people far more to be aligned with the EU and consider Yanukovych a man who only represents the interests of the richest.


If this was in November, why is it making headlines now?

Most recently tensions spilled over in violence after Yanukovych introduced new anti-protest laws designed to end the demonstrations. The laws banned protests from taking place without the government’s permission and threatened those who disobeyed with up to ten years in prison. The legislation also introduced hefty fines for wearing masks or helmets to demonstrations, as well as driving bans for convoys of more than five cars. Internet media outlets have to register with authorities and no amplifiers are allowed in public places. Many people feel the government is trying to repress the truth and remove their rights. This protest is now more than a pro-EU movement, it is fuelled by anti-government feeling, with many activists seeing their cause as a fight against corruption. Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister and Interior Minister, and also the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych.

http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article9082215.ece/ALTERNATES/w460/ukraine-2.jpg
Protesters use a large slingshot to hurl a Molotov cocktail at police in central Kiev



What does Vitali Klitschko have to do with it?

The former heavyweight boxing champion is one of three opposition leaders and is strongly in favour of the EU. The other two leaders are Oleh Tyahnybok, and Arseniy Yatsenyuk, of jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko's party. Writing in The Independent, Chatham House fellow James Sherr thinks Klitschko is a real contender to be the next leader and offer a political solution to the crisis. However he also thinks things are going to get worse before they get better.

Where are all the flames coming from?

A line of burning tyres marks the barricade between protesters and police. Among the demonstrators are radical nationalists, some of whom have been pictured hurling Molotov cocktails and petrol bombs at riot police. Two activists have been killed by gunshot wounds, but officers deny responsibility. A third activist has been found dead in a forest outside Kiev, reportedly showing signs of torture. A 17-year-old student told the BBC he was stripped naked by police, beaten, slashed with knives and cut across his anus. He was eventually taken to hospital. Earlier this week ministry apologised after video footage emerged showing police humiliating a protester in custody, making him walk around naked in the snow. Allegations of torture are going to be raised by Ukrainian MP Irena Seh, the BBC reports.


Who are the Berkut?

The Berkut are a special unit of officers attached to the Interior Ministry and their purpose is to control large crowds. They are known for their brutality and at least one Ukrainian private TV station, ICTV, has openly criticised riot police for their actions toward protesters. Amnesty has called for a investigation into allegations of abusive use of force by officers from the Berkut riot police force during the break up of a riot in November.


What is ‘the Maidan’?

The Square of Independence or Maidan Nezalezhnosti is the centre of the protests. It has long been the focus of political protests, of which the latest has been dubbed the ‘Euromaidan’. The automaidan is where supporters stop their cars in a circle, forming a barricade. Maidan means square.

What next?

There are fears that the riots could spread beyond Kiev, with protesters reportedly besieging or stormed government buildings in at least four cities in western Ukraine on Friday. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned Mr Yanukovych in a phone call on Thursday that the European Union may take action if he doesn’t end his crackdown on protesters, and ambassadors have discussed the possibility of sanctions. President Yanukovych has called an emergency session of parliament next week to discuss the protests.

[Tesseract]

Maybe someone closer to the region can share their thoughts, but here are some of mine.

In most Western countries, protests are illegal – you have to get permission in advance in order to have one. That permission is certainly not always granted, and if you protest without permission you get arrested and go to jail. I don’t know the details of the Ukrainian protest laws, and people are right to be sceptical as to how they may be misused, but certainly the media is aiming to create a contrast - as if anyone in the west is free to protest when and where and how they want, and that all dissent is being made illegal in Ukraine.

You saw the images in the opening couple of posts here – ask yourselves this: what would the police response be in New York, or Washington, if this kind of protest had taken place. Please bear in mind that an utterly peaceful occupy Wall St protest in New York saw 700 people arrested. The total runs into the thousands if other mass arrest incidents are included.

So, no one should imply that New York would somehow sit by and let a group of people burn tires, vehicles and hurl Molotov cocktails their way. In fact, if this happened in New York, the offenders would likely face charges or arson, terrorism, attempt to commit grievous bodily harm, making an illegal fire, violating pollution laws, and so on. People would face years in prison if they were apprehended and would face huge debts for clean-up and damages. God knows there would have been a thousand cameras recording every minute of their action. The mere possession of a Molotov cocktail in the US can lead to charges of possessing an explosive device. Furthermore if police were faced with this affront in the US, I suspect the police would open fire and be rather more brutal than the Ukrainian police, especially if the offenders were black.

There is no doubt in my mind that Western agents are acting as provocateurs in Ukraine at the current time – it would be a betrayal of the West’s Machiavellian nature to pass the opportunity by. What the West is hoping for most is a violent crackdown by police in Ukraine. The West cheers every death and injury caused to a protester in Ukraine, as it gives them the opportunity to play the tyrant card – which they know works pretty well for them.

The West has been assiduously whittling away at Russia and its sphere of interest for years. Iran, Libya, Syria. Also Georgia/S Ossetia and of course Ukraine. You also have the ring of missiles going up in Nato countries. In Ukraine it goes back at least to the so called orange revolution (did the west in invent that term too?). Who remembers the ridiculous story – that was mass-plastered all over the news ad nauseum– that Russia had tried to kill Yuchenko with botulin, damaging his face. No one supported Yanukovich in the West after that. It’s the kind of insane story, there’s one for every country they go after, that the Western idiot population just loves to believe. At the end of it all, Yuchenko became President, just as the West wanted (and many people in Ukraine too). A few years later he, this Messiah, was voted out and Yanukovich - the evil despot - somehow, miraculously, won the vote. Fancy that.

America is already involved in this through the government controlled media and by other mean – they are not staying out. John McCain, has already taken to the stage, IN UKRAINE itself. Look how Iraq, Libya and Syria turned out after McCain visits – that is what McCain want – he always is the first to call for the bombs.. And, may I ask, what kind of crowd welcomes and cheers this decrepit war mongrel bastard? The pro-west crowd in Ukraine did.. Maybe they can have a visit by Dick Cheney next, or Hillary Clinton, perhaps Henry Kissinger.

I notice the word dictator written on the tape over people’s mouths? This must be the Chavez type dictator – you know, the one who is democratically elected but which the West doesn’t like. The one that doesn’t welcome enthrallment to the West.

And when I look at those picture, I don’t see too many people there. In fact, crowd size analysis of protests erroneously claimed to be in the 100s of 1000s have shown that Western media reports are guilty of gross exaggeration. It’s not a mistake, really, since they did it deliberately.

Another thing the West has been doing lately is portraying leaders it doesn’t like as huge money spenders and wasters, while their people starve. They did it with Gaddafi (who lived in an upper middle class environment [but oh my god he had marble in the bathroom] when he wasn’t in a tent), they are doing it with Assad, I don’t know that they have perfectly replicated this with Yanukovich yet – but I do now see the claim that he supports the rich. Which is strange, seeing as he is a former working class engineer from a poor background. I’m sure there will soon be stories about what kind of jewellery his wife wears or how much he spent at a hotel in Moscow.

As for Ukraine – they should try and stay independent above all else, both of Moscow and the EU. Who’s right and who’s wrong in the current debate I don’t know – I just know spin when I see it. I don’t quite know how Ukraine fell into this trade dichotomy. At least they must feel a little special, being coveted by everyone. But, that is a very dangerous position to be in. They mustn’t get played. The country is divided, there are deep and historical divisions. That works well for the West. A virtual balkanisation is a good as a real one. Some Ukrainians supported the Nazi’s some didn’t, some prefer to speak Russian, some don’t. However, I can’t help but feel the current problems are something like a mountain being made of a mole hill. If the situation degrades further – it is for deeper reasons than this business deal. It’s just funny how it always seems to go to the **** when the pro Russian guys happen to be in charge. Coincidence?

[Nanoo Nanoo]

I think all this protesing is anti government and and illegal !


This is very naughty behaviour !


Niiiice


N

[Tesseract]

I don't normally go for these, but this is a little gem:

24626

[yuhui]

Highly militarized rioters attempt to start civil war in Ukraine

uMvzIEDYFBs

Protesters surround American embassy in Kiev, rally against US meddling

‘A huge crowd of demonstrators has surrounded the US embassy in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, protesting against Washington’s meddling in the country’s internal affairs.

The event was organized by Kievans for Clean City, a new pro-government activist group which has spoken out against the rioters and violence in downtown Kiev.

Several thousand demonstrators are taking part, urging the US to “stop sponsoring” mass unrests, local media reported.’

http://www.davidicke.com/headlines/highly-militarized-rioters-attempt-to-start-civil-war-in-ukraine/

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

Thanks for this thread -- those pictures are priceless (the one with the molotov cocktail is Hollywood worthy)

It's hard to believe how crazy this whole region (between europe and middle east and russia!) is in turmoil...

There is this huge struggle apparently, where the gas pipes are going to run and who is going to secure the regions in question,
who is going to get to sell oil and gas to the EU (!), whether or not Russia loses flat-out to the oil pipelines being debated in the Middle East...

there is a lot of money on the table and the only one who is hedged is BP, right?
they have Russian assets (20 percent of state holdings??) and also benefit if Russia has to bend over...

not a very comfy relationship i would say.

p.s. never seen that many burning tires outside of Kentucky! lol