"YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AS DAZZLING AS YOUR SUBJECTS"

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

DEMONSTRATIONS IN KIEV THEN AND NOW

KIEV (KYIV) 
AT A TURNING POINT? 


"DEMONSTRATION" 
KIEV, USSR 
September 1, 1984 

A mass rally for Peace and Knowledge Day (September 1) in Soviet Ukraine:  all the participants were vetted; the leaders and speakers (on the stairs) keep their distance.  The journalists are working in the no-man's land (a kind of dry moat) between the chosen citizens and their leaders. 

An independent Ukraine emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. 

Nine years ago the Orange Revolution toppled the government. 

Two months ago demonstrators took to the street in Kiev again, after President Viktor Yanukovych chose to partner with Russia rather than the European Union. This week there have been violent clashes between protestors and the police.  Legislation severely limiting demonstrations is due to come into force tomorrow. Today the foreign minister of Russia, Sergei Lavrov, weighed in, protesting against the protesters. 

Reporting and analysis (and photographs and video) can be found here and here and here and here and here and here

Update February 18, 2014: Violence and fire and a meeting of President and Opposition, but no meeting of minds, here

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