Olexander Pavlychenko
19.02.2014
Translated by Tatiana Curtis
Edited by Maria Stanislav
Source: Argument.ua

“When a country loses more than 20 lives of its citizens in one day, it goes into mourning. In Ukraine, however, the Government cynically shuts down the subway, spouting lies about the threat of terrorist attacks, and spends the night stopping buses, trains and cars, for fear of its own people.”

This is an extract from an open letter to Viktor Yanukovych from Olexander Pavlychenko of the Kharkiv Human Rights Group (published by helsinki.org.ua):

Night Thoughts About the President

Viktor Fedorovych,

A night in the open air helps one think and come to some conclusions.

During this night, I saw dozens of beaten and injured people, as well those for whom the morning of February 18 became their last. I deeply sympathize and grieve with their families, who have yet to survive this pain. Now, just imagine, what if both your sons, or even one of them, was brought to you wrapped in a blanket, his dead eyes still open? Maybe then you would finally comprehend what you have done, with your own greedy hands? Do you really think that the lives of the Maidan children were worth less than the lives of yours? Then you are wrong. They are true heroes, and they will be respected and remembered years and years to come.

However, I’m not writing to thank you for creating these heroes. May your reward for them be the same pain that hundreds of thousands of surviving Ukrainians feel today, the pain of those who mourn their dead. The children you raised would not climb five floors up a sheer wall of a blazing building to save a guy who couldn’t get out and would perish in the fire another minute later. But tonight, two brave guys, using nothing but a rope, rescued their comrade from the burning Trade Union House, which was set on fire by your scumbags. I’m sure that more than one person died in those flames. The MES [Ministry of Emergency Situations] rescue squads pulled over thirty out of the fire. But not all of them. The people who lost their lives because of you this night – may you see them in your dreams, every night.

When a country loses more than 20 lives of its citizens in one day, it goes into mourning. In Ukraine, however, the Government cynically shuts down the subway, spouting lies about the threat of terrorist attacks, and spends the night stopping buses, trains and cars, for fear of its own people.

Yes, be afraid. Fear is at your core. Live in fear, because you do have something to fear. Retribution is coming, for everything you have done.