U-krainian U-turn

On 22 January 1919 Ukraine was formally united by the signing of the Zluky (Unification) act in Kiev. The tumultuous years of World War I and the Russian revolution saw several formations of Ukrainian political units. It ended with Ukraine becoming a Socialist republic of the Soviet Union. In 1990, under Soviet rule, 300.000 Ukrainians formed a human chain to celebrate the event of 1919. After independece, in 1999, 22 January became a government holiday, which has been celebrated every year. 

Over: Signing of the Zluky Act 22 January 1919. Left under: The Act. Right under: Human chain in 1990.

Modern 22 January celebration of Unity day.

Today, on 22 January 2014, thousands of Ukrainians are not celebrating, but protesting. Three demonstrators or more were killed. The Euromaidan protest started in November 2013 against the U-turn President Yanukovich did by not signing an agreement with the EU. Ukraine is in a borderland between Russia and the EU, and needs to balance as they are not allowed to align with both. The population is split, and the country has for years been vacillating between the two - a difficult act.

On 17 December Russia pledged Ukraine a US$ 15 billion loan, and lowered gas prices from US$400 to US$270 per thousand cubic meters. This is important and Ukraine has been struggling for lower gas prices for years, including importing from Hungary and Poland. The EU has appeal to the pro-EU part of the population, but not enough economic muscle to compete with Russia – for now. The government has outlawed demonstrations. The split opposition includes right-wing groups and in response demonstrations have turned anti-government and violent. Boxer-turned-politician Klitschko has not been able to unite and calm the aggressive groups yet. To be able to challenge the government, which has support from a huge part of the population, the opposition needs to unite, and find a strategy that gathers more Ukrainians, hopefully in a non-violent way. 

Demonstrator in Kiev in December2013.

Mostly peaceful demonstrators.  

Police beat, and shoot demonstrators on 22 January 2014.

Demonstrators fight back using fireworks and Molotov cocktails.

I am open to your comments and proposals.

Warmly

Bjarte Bjørsvik