This dyad belongs to the conflict Ukraine: Government
Summary of conflict Ukraine: Government
A sudden change of heart in November 2013 by the Ukrainian Government with regards to a long-standing policy of approaching the EU triggered mass demonstrations and the formation of a strongly organised protest movement, Maidan, with the stated goal of overthrowing the government. While initially peaceful, actions turned violent after police and security forces stormed the protest camp in central Kyiv in January 2014, with fighting intensifying by mid-February as special police forces were brought in by the central government. Under substantial foreign pressure, and faced with the lack of willingness by the armed forces to further escalate, a large part of the government party defected to the protester side, triggering the removal and departure for Russia of president Yanukovych on 22 February 2014. With Maidan's victory, a new cabinet was installed; however, Russia did not accept the outcome, proceeding to invade Crimea a few weeks later. Furthermore, opponents of Maidan living in Eastern Ukraine, proceeded to organize by mid-April 2014, initiating territorial armed conflicts over Donetsk and Luhansk in Eastern Ukraine.
Governments abandonment of EU plans leads to mass protests and revolution
In late November 2013, Ukraine was set to sign an association agreement with the European Union, one of the first steps towards eventual membership in the body. The process had been sufficiently advanced, that a formal ceremony was planned in Vilnius, on 28 November. However, just a few days before the ceremony, on 21 November, the government, run by the pro-Russian Party of Regions and its president, Viktor Yanukovych, decided to abandon the process and instead pursue an alternate, pro-Russian path.
This event triggered mass protests in Kiev/Kyiv and other major cities, especially in the pro-West Central and Western Ukraine. Protesters claimed European integration was the only way to bring about structural reforms in order to reduce corruption and increase living standards in what was one of the poorest and most corrupt European states; Russian cooperation was seen as a way to further increase the authoritarianism of the government and maintain the ruling elite in power.
Protests, while widespread, with over 500.000 participants in Kiev/Kyiv, were mainly peaceful in the beginning; however, the sheer size caused significant issues for the authorities. The largest protest was a sit-in occupation of Maidan Nezalezhnosti (independence square) in Central Kiev/Kyiv with over half a million participants, a protest known as Euromaidan. Other movements occurred in the mainly pro-European West, in cities such as Lviv and Ternopil, with other protest activities taking place throughout the country and in other forms (such as Automaidan, protesting by using private cars to slow official traffic; Cybermaidan, protesting over the internet and social media etc.).
Coordination was done by various leaders of the opposition, containing a wide spectrum of political views, parties and persons, from liberals (Klitschko and Timoshenko) to socialists (Lutsenko) to right-wing extremists (Right Sector). Initially, demands were the continuation of EU integration and the release of popular opposition leader and former PM Yulia Timoshenko from prison. In the same time, smaller, counter, pro-government and pro-Russian protests took place in the pro-Russian East, as well as in Kiev/Kyiv. By late November, a loose organization was established, the Maidan Peoples Council, while demands shifted to the resignation of the Presidency and Prime Minister, and their replacement with opposition (Maidan) figures.
As the protesters put significant pressure on the government, authorities began to institute measures to break the protests and clear Maidan. On the night of 30 November 2013, the government began a crackdown, violently evicting parts of Maidan. While no deaths occurred, this triggered the organization of Maidans self-declared military, the "self-defense force" under the command of Andrei Parubiy.
By 19 January 2014, the government tightened the legal framework regarding protests and demonstrations, imposing draconian jail sentences for any form of manifestation and demanding the end of all protest. This led to further protests, which in turn led to the enactment of legislation allowing for the police and troops to use full firepower to disperse the Maidan camp and clear the center of Kiev/Kyiv. Special police forces (Berkut) were called to intervene; Maidan forces build barricades and organised defences, leading to clashes in and around Maidan on 22 January where at least 5 people were killed.
In the wake of this violence, Maidan forces and protesters took over and occupied a large number of regional administrative buildings throughout the country, severely disrupting the governmental administration and power; at one point or another, important ministries, such as the Ministry of Justice, the City Hall and the main Kiev convention center were under the control of Maidan forces. Furthermore, international protests targeting the governments handling of the Maidan protests became much stronger, with many European leaders giving overt political support to Maidan leaders.
As violence levels increased, large parts of government support collapsed as the government escalated its response. Military leaders and members of parliament either resigned or switched sides. This included Prime Minister Azarov, who resigned on the 28 January 2014. Moreover, many of the measures taken by the government, simply leading to more people joining Maidan.
Given the state of affairs, by the beginning of February both the Government and Maidan leaders initiated talks, major demands being early elections for all governmental positions, a general amnesty for those protesters and members of Maidan in custody of the government, and the restoration of the 2004 constitutional reform that was reverted in 2010 (seen by Maidan as more democratic). A temporary lull in fighting ensued, with many governmental buildings turned back to the government while changes were implemented.
However, as talks progressed slowly, and promised reforms were not implemented, on 18 February 2014 Maidan troops decided to protest in front of the parliament, demanding a speeding of the process. Police and Berkut troops waited prepared, and a confrontation ensued where live ammunition was used by both sides - at least 26 dying that day. Maidan forces occupied many of the buildings it had left previously, while governmental forces prepared a frontal attack on the main Maidan camp. While some advances were made by the government towards capturing Maidans main camp in Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the expected outcome - i.e. the full dispersal of Maidan did not happen.
By 20 February, governmental authorities shut down most public transport as well as most intercity rail and bus routes connecting Western Ukraine to Kiev/Kyiv. This, however, proved to be unsuccessful, as Maidan forces returned on the offensive, capturing administrative buildings, rebuilding barricades, and reasserting their control over central Kiev/Kyiv, with further assaults on other key buildings (including the presidential palace) being discussed. Furthermore, more and more people joined Maidan, willing to fight in order to overthrow the government. Snipers shooting live ammunition and non-uniformed armed thugs (titushky) were reported.
By then, fighting reached the highest level since the beginning of the conflict, with Maidan forces on the offensive. The EU and the US imposed asset freezes and visa bans on Ukrainian officials, with threats of further action. This state of affairs led to large sections of governmental MPS in parliament defecting to the opposition or fleeing to safer areas of the country, as did parts of the armed forces and police. This, in effect, led to the parliament being controlled by pro-Maidan opposition. Moreover, both the mayor of Kiev and the Defense Minister resigned after reopening communication links and calling men back to the barracks.
Negotiations were restarted, with both Maidan leader Klitschko, Ukrainian president Yanukovitch and foreign (EU) envoys taking part; a temporary deal was reached, reiterating the issues discussed in January and calling for a full amnesty, a new constitution and snap elections before the end of the year.
However, as the support base of Yanukovich was crumbling, this deal never actually entered into force; on 21 February, the now Maidan controlled Parliament voted in near unanimity to dismiss the president, condemn the violence, dismiss the Berkut special police and call all regular troops to the barracks. One day later, opposition figure Oleksandr Turchynov was sworn in as interim president, and a few days later Arseniy Yatsenyuk was appointed prime-minister.
Yanukovich fled to Russia, as did former Prime Minister Azarov; his remaining political supporter base fled east, mainly to the pro-Russian Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, where they would trigger a series of new conflicts starting in April - May 2014 over the status of Donetsk and Luhansk oblast.
Further, while the EU accepted Maidans victory, Russia did not, calling it an unconstitutional coup; this triggered the Russian infiltration and annexation of Crimea in March 2014 (see Russia - Ukraine).
