(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
Exactly two years after Euromaidan was founded, New Time meets one of its founders in Kiev. At Maidan, where the demonstrations began, we see hundreds of wreaths and photographs of those killed by police. There are celebrations, and here prizes are awarded to some of the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who rushed to the time and supported the protesters. Yanukovych's government fell a few months later, and the situation has improved. But people believe the new government will also fall, as the president and prime minister have not shown sufficient will to establish the real democracy that is desired.
Olexandra Matviichuk, who in Kiev is chair of the Center for Civil Liberties, mentions that Euromaidan was created right after the peaceful student demonstrations: “During this period, we worked 24 hours a day assisting with legal aid, helping the injured, documenting abuses and providing housework. to the internal refugees in Ukraine. More than one million people have fled their homes because of the armed conflict. When you hear about Ukraine, there is often negative news. Then be aware that the energy behind Euromaidan increased the consciousness of ordinary people, who are now trying to rebuild the country. In our network we have over 100 lawyers working free night and day. Armed conflicts are of course cruel, but because of this we also have the opportunity to change the country faster because more people are participating. SOS Euromaidan also gave people free legal aid. Hundreds of injured, imprisoned and tortured were given free legal assistance. ”
"I think the government's strategy was to radicalize those who protested."
A number of political prisoners with pro-Ukrainian stance are imprisoned in the Russian or Russian-dominated areas. “Our 'Let my people go' campaign is noticed internationally, in the European Parliament and the UN. In Russia we have thirteen, in occupied Crimea seven. In Russia, there are no fair trials. If these people are released, international pressure on Russia is the only thing that works. ”
Violence and torture. An example of a political prisoner is the filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. Matviichuk says: "He has organized non-violent resistance movements against the occupation. That is why Russia and Crimea accuse him of being a terrorist. Along with two others, he is accused of being the leader of a terrorist group, but there is no evidence to support this. They smashed a door in a house where pro-Ukrainian activists were being held captive. We have heard that torture took place there, but so far we have not been able to prove it. The indictment against them stated that burning the door was an attempt to stop the return of Crimea to Russia. By destroying a door? That's nonsense. They use Oleg Sentsov as a signal that even peaceful resistance will be punished with indictment and imprisonment, "says Matviichuk. "In Crimea, the Russians fabricate crimes, they close NGOs and do not allow other religious groups than the Moscow Patriarchate. We know about violence, abduction and torture. For example, we have a video with a Crimean Tatar who shows up to a peaceful gathering on the street, against Russian occupation. Then came the so-called Crimea self defense. The Crimean Tatar is then found dead, characterized by torture, killed as a result of being stabbed with something sharp through the eyes. Despite video evidence, there was no investigation. There is no legal certainty in the occupied parts of Crimea. "
Asked what kind of influence Russia has in the east, Matviichuk answers: "The so-called People's Republic of Lugansk, which Russia created, is not a republic, but paramilitary groups that in March last year began to attack people. They liquidated activists and the press to gain control. Russia contributed troops and weapons. This is documented. We have asked more than 160 people who were captured by these paramilitary groups. Half of them were military, and half were civilians. We received information about 79 unofficial places where people were arrested and interrogated in the occupied territories. According to testimonies, we know that 86 percent of the military were tortured, and about half of the civilians. The military used violence, electricity, hunger and rape. In 44 of the cases, violence and torture during interrogations were carried out by Russian military or Russian volunteers – not the locals. "
How easy is it here to talk about Russia being behind it, as local paramilitaries may also have their own interests? Matviichuk replies: “This is complex. Leaders of paramilitary groups have also been killed, including those who opposed orders from Russian officers. It is clear that the Kremlin wants to maintain effective control over these paramilitary groups. "
Volunteers. Matviichuk herself has experienced being threatened, as she stood at the heart of the revolution that began here in Kiev. "Everyone was exposed, even those who only assisted with food. During Euromaidan, the secret police arrived at my apartment and I could not return for several weeks. I was also asked to appear before the prosecution as a witness, but when you get there, you are told that you are a suspect. Everyone can fall victim to false accusations, violence or torture. "
"But for me personally, the dramatic days of February 2014 were the most frightening moments during Euromaidan. People started calling us and told us that the police were shooting unarmed protesters. Our volunteers came to places where people had been killed. We started by writing down who was dead. Then my husband called. He told me he was on the Maidan, that he loved me, and said goodbye. I love my husband. I wanted to ask him to escape, but I could not. Because all the people on the Maidan had family – so I did not make it. These are very dramatic memories for me. My husband survived. But we had to call many and tell them that their family members had been killed. It was hard. "
"The authorities' strategy was to radicalize those who protested – but the vast majority of protests were peaceful. It happened that some resisted violently, but mostly there were non-violent demonstrations. Many videos show people who were shot and did not have weapons. They were shot like animals, even though they were not a threat to the police. "
"We do not know what would have happened if Yanukovych had not fled the country. I think he escaped because parts of the police started refusing to carry out orders. This has also been a tragedy for the police. This regime, which forces the police to kill protesters, did not even provide medical equipment to its employees. They do not care about any people anyway. "
Russia. I ask Matviichuk to explain Russia's role in Ukraine. "Ukrainians are proving that we are not part of Russia, but that we are choosing a European model for the future," she replies. "Not first and foremost a geopolitical cooperation, but a focus on ensuring human rights, with corrupt authorities taking responsibility for the people. I think Ukrainians are the only people in the world who have given their lives for European values. Before Euromaidan, my organization Center for Civil Liberties worked closely with human rights organizations from Russia. They are very brave people, because Russia is not a democracy – it is a corrupt country without the opportunity to develop. While we are at war, it is difficult to develop a democratic social system. Russia is going to war against us, precisely to prevent this. "
"He was on the Maidan, said he loved me, and said goodbye."
In Kiev, Ukrainian, pro-Ukrainian, friends like to speak together in their "mother tongue" Russian. Also, pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian spoke well together in the past, so why is there so much hatred between them now? "Because of Russian propaganda. Russia started with this a long time ago. They have set aside large sums for Russian propaganda in several countries. It's a big system. When Euromaidan started, the Russian propaganda apparatus tried to equate the protesters with radicals and fascists. They emphasized that this was run by the political group Conservative Sector (see also Ny Tid no. 25 from August this year). But the numbers say otherwise: Two million people took part in the Euromaidan protests, and five million supported the infrastructure of the protests. When the police became violent, self-defense was launched with 12 people divided into 000 different self-defense groups. The Right Sector amounted to only 40 people. Russia wanted all the protesters to be from the Conservative Party. They created an image of fascists who wanted to take over the country. We who were present during the Euromaidan obviously knew that this was not the case. Unfortunately, Russian propaganda is very effective. For example, they use photos – for example from Donetsk, where several thousand showed up in April 300 for a pro-Ukrainian gathering, and were attacked by pro-Russian activists. In the Russian press, the pictures were explained by the pro-Ukrainian demonstrators attacking the Russians. That's a lie. "
Government. What about the current government – does Matviichuk believe in the reforms planned by President Poroshenko and Prime Minister Yatsenyuk? "Politicians did not take the initiative for Euromaidan, and have not had any leading role here. The new government is not in fact a new government – several were members of the previous regime. The government is better, but not good enough, so we criticize them. They should introduce a democratic model and then step down. These are people with the same mindset as under Yanukovych – we see all the symptoms. New political initiatives are now being built from the grassroots level. "
What about human rights – do they work? "I often hear that politics is more important than human rights, but without human rights everything will collapse. If we want peace, we must have justice. You do not choose where or when you were born. The only choice you have is whether you want to be a good person or a bad person. "
Matviichuk himself sits as an adviser to parliament, in the committee on human rights. "We are trying to push the government in the right direction, but they are not showing an overwhelming will to introduce radical reforms. We have the opportunity to influence. Civil society will always work for human rights, but those in power want power at the expense of civil society. We want reforms in the legal sector and in the police. We have 9000 judges, now they must be downgraded in the Supreme Court. They are responsible, also morally, for the system that developed under Yanukovych. "
"The parties in today's parliament are not ideologically based, but support one leader. Instead of fan clubs for the leaders, we must have new parties based on democracy. This will come from the grassroots. "
I ask Matviichuk to comment on the Communist Party, which has been expelled from Parliament. "The problem is that the Communists do not live up to their values. If you are a socialist or a communist, you should have worked for the poor. "
And what about President Poroshenko – how could they choose an oligarch who owned a television channel and a chocolate and cake empire? He has not yet got rid of either the TV channel or the candy
the group, as he promised? "When Euromaidan was implemented, we needed someone who could govern, and he was a better candidate than the others. But if we now have a democratic development with parties based on real values and real choices, Poroshenko will be part of the story, "says Matviichuk.
Ukraine is now on everyone's agenda, as this has developed into an international conflict between NATO, Europe and Russia. "That's the problem," Matviichuk comments. "Ukraine cannot resolve the conflict with its own forces alone. The conflict is imposed on us because we want democracy. If we succeed in introducing democracy in Ukraine, this will set a good example for other post-Soviet states. That is why Russia wants to stop us. They're scared. During the Euromaidan, we felt that we were a drop in the ocean, but eventually we felt international solidarity. "
The future. Finally: If a leader like Matviichuk had hypothetically held the position of female president – yes, we allow that thought – what would she prioritize? "I would like to see a legal reform where all human rights can be defended in court. Then I would introduce a tax reform. We have a difficult economy, but creative people in the middle class – it is these who want change. They must have the freedom to create something. I'm not naive, I know Russia will not give up. Ukraine must not fight for territories, but for the people who live here. Had I had the power, my decisions would have been based on these things. "
(Matviichuk writes for Ny Tid about Russian propaganda in the next newspaper (16.1.16).)
