Ukraine: Crimea declares its independence amid an increasing Russian military presence and Western pressure

Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula

Situation in Ukrainian Crimea, occupied by Russian military troops and waiting for the Crimean referendum to be held on 16 March, remains tense and complicated, as Russian troops still seize Ukrainian military bases and units blocking Ukrainian soldiers and making provocations. In addition to that Russian Armed Forces have started unprecedented military training of its paratroopers units close to Ukrainian borders. Ukrainian Armed Forces representatives reported about nearly 220 thousands of Russian troops and military technique deployed along the Russian-Ukrainian border. Ukrainian military is in state of alert, as mobilization was announced, and Maidan self-defense started to form National Guard in case of Russian military aggression in Crimea and other Ukrainian territories.

Ukraine: Violent confrontation is ongoing for the second day as EU is ready to impose sanctions

Kyiv Independence Square on fire
(Image: RTR)

Fierce clashes and violent confrontations are ongoing in Ukrainian capital Kyiv and all over Ukraine, as protesters refuse to give up and Yanukovich’s regime continues to kill Ukrainian citizens.

The clashes erupted on Tuesday, 18 February, between the peaceful protesters heading to the building of Parliament, and security forces firing teargas, throwing Molotoc cocktails, shooting birdshots and sound and smoke bombs at the protesters causing chaos and violent clashes. Kyiv downtown and Maidan (Independence Square) have turned into a real battlefield, as dozens of thousands of activists and protesters have been defending Maidan and its barricades despite using of live ammunition and bombs against the protesters. Military vehicles have been deployed to the scene.

Ukrainian protesters prepare for the decisive Tuesday’s Parliamentary session as opposition has met with Angela Merkel

Euromaidan anti-government protests in Kyiv
(Image: Kyiv Post)

Ukrainian activists and protesters are preparing for the Tuesday’s massive march to the building of Parliament, where the decisive session is expected to be held. Oppositional MPs demand voting for the Constitutional reform in order to amend the current national Charter and to return to the 2004 Constitution, limiting powers of President and establishing parliamentary-presidential form of governance instead of the presidential one, what allowed Yanukovich to build a strong vertical of power working for his interests and oppressing freedoms and rights of Ukrainians.

Ukraine: Sunday massive rally in Kyiv, results of Munich Conference and deadlock in parliament

Massive anti-government rallies in Kyiv
(Image: Radio Svoboda)

Situation in Ukraine remains tense, as political crisis is still not resolved and there is no consensus between the government and opposition, and massive protesters continue for more than 70 days despite the frosts and snow.

Sunday, 2 February, has gathered tens of thousands of Ukrainians in Kyiv’s Independence Square and thousands of people all over Ukraine as well, as several regions are still under control of People’s Councils with their regional offices taken by protesters.

Ukrainian revolution continues as negotiations are in a deadlock

On the barricades in Ukrainian capital
(Image: Reuters)

Ukraine is witnessing a real revolution as protests are spreading outside of Kyiv, and people all over Ukraine are seizing regional offices and declaring People’s Councils to represent people’s power there.

After the second round of talks held between the oppositional leaders Vitaly Klichko, Arseny Yatsenyuk and Oleg Tyagnybok, and Yanukovich and his team failed, as Yanukovich is unwilling to hear the people’s demands, oppositional leaders and protesters have taken decision to leave the negotiations’ process and to continue fight for Ukrainian freedom and rights. The leaders though urged protesters to remain only peaceful and to preserve strict discipline. The territory of Euromaidan was also fortified with the new stronger and bigger barricades, tires are being burned in front of the riot police lines, and protesters are ready for the possible storming and dispersal.

EU discusses sanctions against some Ukrainian officials as US Senate holds a meeting regarding current situation in Ukraine as fresh clashes erupted in Kyiv

EU parliamentarian Michael Galer
(Image: Deutsche Welle)

EU continues its talks and consultations regarding the possibility of imposing personal sanctions against some Ukrainian high officials representing the current government or affiliated with it, stated EU parliamentarian and member of European Parliament’s Committee for Foreign Affairs Michael Galer in his interview with Deutsche Welle. Though not all the information will be currently revealed due to the sensitivity of the issue and ongoing investigations, added politician.

Ukraine: USA is ready to impose sanctions on Ukrainian authorities while EU calls for harsh decisions

Ukrainian Euromaidan celebrating New Year
(Image: Kyiv Post)

Ukrainian Euromaidan, massive anti-government protests, continue for more than month in Kyiv and nationwide, as Western countries including USA and EU are discussing possible sanctions against some Ukrainian high officials.

Thus, USA President Barack Obama and his Administration received on Friday the list of the names of Ukrainian officials who could face possible personal sanctions of USA government. This list was given to the Presidential Administration during the meeting of President with the representatives of Ukrainian Diaspora in Washington.

European Parliament voted for resolution regarding Ukraine

European Parliament during Thursday's session, in support of
Ukraine
(Image: Euromaidan)

European Parliament voted during their session in Strasbourg on Thursday, 12 December, for the resolution regarding Ukraine and situation in the country. There have been 8 projects of resolution submitted to the Parliament.

The main message of the European Parliament’s resolution “Regarding the results of Vilnius Summit of Eastern European Partnership, particularly Ukraine” is readiness of EU to sign Association Agreement with Ukraine in order all the requirements will be met. EU strongly supports political will and aspirations of Ukrainian fighting for their European choice of future.

European Parliament is ready to present its resolution regarding Ukrainian situation. EU condemns use of force. Protests are ongoing

Thousands of Ukrainians gathering on Independence Square
(Image: Euan McDonald)

Western politicians including representatives of USA and EU have strongly condemned recent use of force by Ukrainian government against peaceful protesters when security forces and riot police have attempted to disperse the protests on the night of 11 December and stormed Independence Square, the main site of the protesters.

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of EU, who is in Kyiv since Tuesday, 10 December, has also expressed deep concern of EU and condemned using of force and stripping citizens of their fundamental rights and freedoms, which include freedom of expression, peaceful protests and gatherings. It’s worth mentioning that Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich has assured Mrs. Ashton along with other representatives of Western countries that the talks with the oppositional forces will be organized and the force won’t be used again. Thus Mrs. Ashton expressed her disappointment over the recent events as the violent storming of the protesters happened the same night.

Ukraine: The solution of Yulia Tymoshenko’s case is possible before the Summit in Vilnius

Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister
(Image: UA Info)

According to the information of German newspaper Die FrankfurterAllgemeine Zeitung and to the statements of some Ukrainian journalists Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Andray Klyuev stated in his addressing to the EU representatives that the decision in the case of Yulia Tymoshenko could be taken on 19 November 2013, nearly week before the upcoming Summit of the Eastern European Partnership to be held in Vilnius.

Andrey Klyuev has reportedly assured Aleksander Kwaśniewski and Pat Cox, representatives of the observers’ mission of EU in Ukraine that the solution in the case of imprisoned ex-Prime Minister will be found soon.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov met with EU representatives

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov
meeting with Aleksander Kwasniewski and
Pat Cox
(Image: Ukrinform)

The mission of European Commission represented by observers of European Parliament arrived in Ukraine on 29 October in the framework of the previously planned official visit in order to study the situation in Ukraine and the country’s readiness for the upcoming Summit of Eastern European Partnership to be held in Vilnius on 28-29 November and possible signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and EU.

The observers’ mission of EU is represented by Aleksander Kwaśniewski and Pat Cox will spend in Ukraine several days and will stay here till 31 October visiting Kyiv and Kharkiv where ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is currently imprisoned.

EU mission is expected to arrive in Kyiv amid the discussions regarding Yulia Tymoshenko issue

Mr. Cox and Mr. Kwasniewski, heads of EU mission to
Ukraine
(Image: Modern Ukraine)

Official EU mission represented by observers of European Parliament Pat Cox and Aleksander Kwaśniewski is expected to arrive in Kyiv on Tuesday, 29 October, and will stay in Ukraine till 31 October, according to the official statement of the spokesperson of Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

European observers plan to visit both cities, Kyiv and Kharkov where ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is imprisoned.

During this visit European representatives are aimed to study the situation in Ukraine and the implementation of the important laws and judicial norms and the fulfillment of the agreements made between Ukraine and EU countries in the process of cooperation on the path to European integration of Ukraine. EU representatives have currently stated Ukraine has made a big progress and met most of the conditions but there is still an obstacle for the signing of the Association Agreement with EU in case if the case of imprisoned Yulia Tymosheko will be not resolved.

EU is ready to sign Association Agreement with Ukraine if Yulia Tymoshenko case will be resolved

According to José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, EU is ready to sign Association Agreement with Ukraine following the 26-28 November summit if Ukrainian authorities will find the way to resolve the case of Yulia Tymoshenko and the problem of the so called selective justice which is the matter of deep concern of the European and other Western countries as well.

During the press conference held after the EU summit in Brussels Mr. Barrosso stated that there have been talks between him, Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich, Herman Van Rompuy, President of European Council, and other representatives of EU and European side is ready to sign the Agreement, but Ukraine need to fulfill all the obligations it took in the framework of the cooperation with the EU countries in attempt to make the next step on the path towards European integration. He also stressed that Ukraine has already done a lot in different fields including the judiciary, but there is still the problem of the selective justice and politically motivated oppressions remaining as a significant obstacle for the signing of the Agreement.

Special mission of European Parliament regarding the cases of Tymoshenko and Lutsenko has finished its work in Ukraine

Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and ex-Minister
of Interior Yury Lutsenko, both currently jailed

The special mission of European Parliament which has been studying the cases of jailed Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and ex-Minister of Interior Yury Lutsenko has finished its work in Ukraine. The mission included Poland’s ex-President Alexander Kwaśniewski and ex-Head of European Parliament Patrick Cox.

It’s worth mentioning that the President of European Parliament Martin Schulz will receive the report about the work of the mission and their conclusions on 9 January 2013. But the mission of Mr. Kwaśniewski and Mr. Cox could be considered being finalized. Their mission was prolonged before after the parliamentary elections in Ukraine which have been held on 28 October 2012.

European Parliament urges to accelerate the implementation of the visa-free regime with Ukraine

European Parliament has issued recently the resolution urging to make the more decisive steps regarding the implementation of the more liberal visa regime between European Union and Ukraine.

The author of this project is Jaromír Kohliček, the Head of the Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left.

The authors of the project call for the European Council, European Commission and European External Action Service to take all the necessary measures to implement the more liberal visa regime with Ukraine in order to sign the future Association Agreement between European Union and Ukraine and to prepare all the documents for the process of its ratification.

OSCE is disappointed with the process of counting the votes on the Ukrainian parliamentary elections

Parliamentary elections in Ukraine

The representatives of the OSCE and its observers are disappointed with the process of the counting of the votes on the parliamentary elections in Ukraine. At the same time, they also said that generally the day of elections was smooth and peaceful.

The process of the vaunting the votes and the results of the elections was estimated negative due to lack of fairness and transparence of it, declared the head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegation Mrs. Walburga Habsburg Douglas.

The day of the elections was estimated generally positive, but the process of the counting the votes and the results’ obtaining cause the deep concerns, as it was not enough transparent, Mrs. Habsburg Douglas stated in the report of the mission.

There was also added that some steps in the organizing and conducting the elections in Ukraine this year became the step backwards comparing to the previous elections held in Ukraine.

European Parliament observer mission will start its work in Ukraine on 24 October

The special observer mission of European Parliament tasked with the controlling and observing the upcoming parliamentary election in Ukraine will start its work on 24 October 2012, four days before the election.

The representatives of the European Parliament made a statement about it today, on 8 October. In the current time the members of the European Parliament who will be a part of the observer mission are busy with the preparatory work.

It is also expected that the President of the delegation Pavel Koval and its Vice President Michael Gahler will arrive in Ukraine for the meetings with Ukrainian authorities, representatives of different Ukrainian political parties and member of the observer mission of Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

“This formal pre-election visit of the European Parliament’s members was authorized by the Conference of the presidents which took place at the beginning of October, what makes the upcoming parliamentary election and its conducting in Ukraine extremely important for the future relations between Ukraine and European Union”, was said in an official statement.

 

We would remind here that the parliamentary election is expected to be held in Ukraine on 28 October 2012. Ukrainian Central Election Commission has registered 972 international official observers and observer missions.

PACE highly estimated the process of preparing the parliamentary election in Ukraine

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe estimated highly the process of the preparation of the parliamentary election in Ukraine, stated Director of the Department of the Information Policy of Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oleg Voloshin.

The special pre-election mission of PACE for the observing the process of election preparation visited Ukraine on 19-21 September 2012.

Oleg Voloshin also said that the special mission issued the general statement: “We would like to take note on some of our remarks and wishes regarding the upcoming election. The mission is also concerned with the trials and imprisonment of several oppositional leaders, including Julia Tymoshenko and Yury Lutsenko. But this issue cannot be the decisive one while talking about the legitimacy of the election”.

According to the statement of Oleg Voloshin the presence of the international observers in Ukraine during the process of the preparation and the future election confirms our readiness to conduct the fair and transparent democratic election.

EU representative: It is possible to release Julia Tymoshenko

Jerzy Buzek, ex-President
of European Parliament

Ex-President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek stated in his interview for BBC Ukraine that there are at least two possible ways to release Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister Julia Tymoshenko. She could be released either as a result of amnesty or according to the decision of the European Court.

Almost one year ago the trial against Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister and prominent oppositional leader Julia Tymoshenko has been started. She was accused of exceeding the limits of authority while signing the gas deals with Russia in January 2009 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

But the representatives of EU consider the trial of Julia Tymoshenko and the trials of other Ukrainian oppositional figures as well being not fair and politically motivated, and the issue of release of Mrs. Tymoshenko and other accused figures is one of the tensest in the relationships between Ukrainian authorities and EU. This issue is also one of the obstacles for Ukrainian European integration and signing the Association Agreement and the agreement of the Free Trade Zone with EU. EU politicians do not accept not the sentence itself but rather the trial and the judicial process which led to the issuing of such a sentence.

Europe and USA do not trust Ukrainian President but still wait for the parliamentary election

The most influential European and US politicians stress the importance of the political dialogue with Ukraine despite a lot of questions to Ukrainian authorities regarding the persecution of oppositional figures and the selective justice. They also mentioned the importance of the upcoming parliamentarian election which are expected to be held on 28 October and the following actions of Ukrainian authorities.

European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Štefan Füle, Sweden Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt and German Member of the European Parliament and current Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs Elmar Brok have met with Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich at the Livadia Palace in  Yalta (Crimea) during the European Forum YES and stated that the legitimacy of the future Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) will depend on the conducting of the election.

“The legitimacy of the future Parliament will depend on the way of conducting the upcoming election. The election should be free, fair and transparent and conducted according to the international norms and standards. We’d like to stress here the importance of the freedom of expression and media”, - was announced in the statement of European politicians.