Ukrainian Sboboda Party spokesman Andrey Woloshin about EuroMaidan revolt in Kiev

interview with Andriy Voloshyn, member of the Ukrainian national party Svoboda, on the “EuroMaidan” revolt in Kiev. F.N. : We understand that you want to be closed to Europe and to what it represent, but what do you think of the European Union? For what are you standing in the Maidan? What are you hoping for your country? A.V.: We consider that Ukrainian nation is an inherent part of Europe. The question of a day is not about integration to EU but to make Ukraine free from the Russian colonial administration in Ukraine from pro- Russian government in Ukraine, supported by Putin’s and Russian chauvinism forces. In Ukraine the all highest position in Army, in Police, in truly KGB (SBU) are guided by the Russians, which humiliate the Ukrainian language, history and traditions. Even in the parliament of Ukraine the majority represent the pro-Russian forces and speak in Russian in the national parliament at the tribune. The law that the Ukrainian language is only the unique official language in Ukraine is ignored by them. On the requirement of pro-Ukrainian parties to speak in parliament at the tribune only the state Ukrainian language the Ukrainian deputies-patriots are accused as “fascists”, “Nazi” from pro-Russian deputies. The Ukrainians in Ukraine are in minority in Media, in the administrations etc. So, the people on the street is fighting against Russian imperialism and chauvinism as it was done in the recent history by former parts of the Moscow/Soviet empire: Finland, Poland, Estonia, including Georgia etc. Please note, that the Ukrainians are not against Russians but are against the Russian imperialism only. Nowadays this struggle is only the one new element of this struggle during the centuries. We call this event as the “Revolution of the national honor”. The second important cause of the this event is the struggle against the highest corruption in the country on all levels, creation of the president “family” corrupted guided structure in Ukraine, the extremely growing oligarchical political system and the extremely impoverishment of the populations at the same, millions of which are leaving Ukraine seeking for work abroad including Italy. We supported the signature of Association with EU just to “make us free” from Russian standards of life, continued Russian occupation, being completely aware that the question of joining EU won’t be on agenda in the nearest future. EU has both positive aspect and negative. Positive aspects are mostly economical ones, and the negative are: the weakening of traditional institutions like family and church, multiculturalism, consumerism, uncontrollable immigration from non-European countries. Maidan protest started by some activists who support European integration. On November 30 during the night the demonstrators, mostly students were severely beaten by Berkut (special police). If not this incident – the protest would be over soon. But this brutal attack made hundreds of thousands of people go to the streets and show their discontent with this. The authorities adopted the strategy of ignoring the Maidan, which caused some more clashes and resulted to a big people’s uprising on Hrushevskogo street. 5 or more people were killed by police, so now most of people are waiting for no less than the complete change of power: the resignation of government and president, new elections, stop of the repressions against Maidan activists and security guarantees.

We hope that after the change of power, Ukraine will move to the road of development. We see future Ukraine as strong and independent country and both our party and people on the streets share this vision. F.N.: what are your grievances against president Yanukovich? A.V. : In the beginning of protests we very disappointed with the lack of political coherence. Last months before the Vilnus summit Yanukovich demonstrated a desire to sign Association agreement with EU, but the week before summit prime minister announced that we are not ready to sign the agreement now. Then, after the attack on students everyone was angry that there was no punishment to the police. Last days the repressions against Maidan activists took a horrible form: some activists were tortured, some were killed, some were taken to the forest and severely beaten. Moreover after the parliamentary session on January 16, where in an unconstitutional way deputies from Party of regions (they voted with hands, and the number of voters was not even close to be enough for the adoption of the law) tried to pass the new laws, we see the try to establish dictatorship, somehow similar to the one which was in Soviet union. This is the main grievance right now. We need to add also that 5 or more people died from the hands of police, and there is only 1 person in a country who can stop the police repression – the president Yanukovich. Of course there are many other reasons why we and other people dislike his rule: corruption, the promotion to all important positions people from Donetsk region, economical, cultural, political reason (for example re-elections to parliament in 5 districts on December 15 were falsified in favor of pro-governmental candidates). F.N. : What is the role of Svoboda in the anti-governative front opposed to President Yanukovich? A.V. : Svoboda is one of 3 main opposition parties, which takes very active part in the recent events. Svoboda’s activists are very organized and disciplined. Right now the 2 buildings in center (Kyiv council and October palace is under control of the Svoboda) and Svoboda’s members play the very important part in the people uprising in all the regions of Ukraine (not only in the Western regions which have many local deputies from Svoboda).

F.N.: Could Svoboda take the leadership of the whole revolutionary movement in the next weeks? A.V. : Yes, of course. But right it’s not the time for the rivalry among the opposition and other political parties. It’s not the time for the rivalry among politicians and representatives of civil society or some more radical people. We need to be united as much as we can and cooperate in such questions as Maidan security, help to the activists who were injured or taken by police, overall militant strategy, etc. To split opposition is the dream of authorities, but up to this time all the attempts failed. This is a unique moment when most of the people are united in their hatred towards cruel regime and aggressive deeds acts of police and hired thugs (so-called titushkas). Svoboda keeps this unity strong. F.N.: What is your project for a better Ukraine? A.V. : We believe in great geopolitical future of Ukraine, so that Ukraine can become a real regional leader and may be even (in Huntington words) the core state of Orthodox civilization. The new regional union could be called Black Sea union or Baltic-Black Sea alliance. So we’ll substitute the West – East axis of integration by North – South, and Ukraine can play a big role in this cooperation. Of course many things need to be done, many internal problems need to be solved. This alliance was described by Ukrainian geopolitician from the middle of XXth century – Yuriy Lypa. This is also a part of Svoboda’s political program. For example in the program we can see this point: Direct foreign efforts to build closer political and economic cooperation with natural allies – the countries of Baltic-Black Sea geopolitical axis (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria, in the long term – Belarus et al.). Initiate mutually beneficial agreements between these countries and Ukraine in all strategic areas: trade and customs policy, energy security and transit, defense, etc. So we need to work with all the countries with which we have common interest while at the same time forming and remembering the real geopolitical doctrine which would hopefully come true in future.

Andriy Voloshyn, Svoboda’s party