Voices of Ukraine

Frontman of ‘Okean Elzy’ provides fundamental principles to new government in Ukraine 

This is my appeal to the “new” government! Ukraine faces uncertain times today. This includes the threat of loss of territory, the uneasy situation in various regions, economic challenges and much more. In such a situation, you have no margin for error. No, I don’t mean mistakes in the process of doing your job which were, are and always will be for each of those who works. I’m talking about strategic mistakes that might not only cause it to lose its place in office but to the loss for all of us of territorial integrity and stability. Don’t go down the path of your predecessors.

Here are the 10 principles that you must follow at all times:

Georgian Colleague:  What is your position concerning the referendum? How soon will you discuss the decision of the Crimean people in Russian State Duma?

Russian Politician Let’s wait for the results of the referendum. We don’t know yet what the results will be … Let’s wait for the people of Crimea to freely express their will. If they vote for Russia, we’ll negotiate it as soon as possible in the Duma. As to the procedures, I am not ready to answer this question … I know for certain that it will not take much  time … [And] with this, we will restore the historical justice: Crimea was always part of Russia.

Blog post by Levko Stek, Radio Svoboda journalist

Representative of the so-called self-defense in Crimea.

It is almost summertime in Bakhchisarai. A bright sunny day, around 16:00. At the bus station, yet another minibus to Simferopol is preparing to depart. There are approximately 20 passengers in the cabin. I am finishing my Snickers chocolate bar while editing, in my mind, the news story about Ukrainian soldiers who refused to ‘surrender’ to officers of the Russian Black Sea fleet in exchange for money and guarantees for a prosperous future. The journey has passed without any conflicts. A man in a black jacket, who constantly keeps talking on his phone, occasionally catches my attention. It is not surprising that you start noticing these small things when reports of kidnapped and beaten journalists keep flooding in. Fortunately, in my case, it hasn’t happened.

Three people enter the cabin. They look tense; perhaps they…

Wednesday, March 19, 2014, 18:45

Ukraine this year will no longer preside over the Comonwealth of Independent States. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the announcement through its Director of Information, Yevhen Perebyinis, at a briefing in Kyiv. “The Ukrainian side has decided not to extend its presidency in the CIS in 2014,” he said. Furthermore, “Ukraine has the right to reconsider its continued participation in the CIS. This issue is being considered,” said Perebyinis.

NATO: “We consider the so-called referendum held on 16 March in Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea to be both illegal and illegitimate. The referendum violated the Ukrainian Constitution and international law, and Allies do not recognise its results.” (North Atlantic Council, 17 March 2014)

Canada: “The so-called referendum held today was conducted with Crimea under illegal military occupation. Its results are a reflection of nothing more than Russian military control … This ‘referendum’ is illegitimate, it has no legal effect, and we do not recognize its outcome.” (Prime Minister Stephen Harper, 16 March 2014)