In 1988, when tens of thousands of people had gathered in Freedom Square, Moscow’s “Vremya” program was calling them a group of nationalists and extremists. Were there people among them (us) with such attitudes? Maybe, I, personally, have not seen. Anyway, it is clear that it is not important. It is much more important why people were going to the square, what goals were pursued. When in 2008 people were gathered in the same square to protest against the rigged election, “Haylur” was saying that they were lawbreakers, and the then President Robert Kocharyan, meeting with university students prior to March 1, voiced direct intimidations addressed to the rally organizers. (Now, when the ANC “patched up” with Kocharyan, they prefer not to remember about it). And, after March 1, the official propaganda was saying that the demonstrators had shot at the police, and showed different types of weapons, as well as syringes (as if they were drug addicts).
This false concept has found its place even in the university history textbook. Now, Russian President Vladimir Putin is interpreting the intentions of the people who came out of Kiev Maidan in a unique way. Moreover, it is noteworthy that unlike the previous two cases described above Putin is interpreting the events taking place not in his but the neighboring country. According to Putin, it turns out that not inactive people, citizens protesting against the corrupt government were gathered in Kiev Maidan and other cities of Ukraine rather than mainly the Nazis and banders who “by the command of their western masters” were in war against the Russian-speaking population. Moreover, the “Berkut” fighters were quietly standing on the streets of Kiev, whereas the nationalists were shooting at them from the firearm, as well as thrown “Molotov cocktails” on them. Were there extreme nationalists among the Ukrainian opposition? Of course. Have they applied to illegal actions and atrocities? Of course. But, to assert that they are the culprits of 95 victims, would severely be a distortion of the reality.
And, most importantly that the vast majority of the population of Ukraine, irrespective of ethnic background, was filled with hatred towards the government and the Kremlin supported Yanukovych in the first place. On the other hand, we should not, of course, fall into the arms of Maidan or any other revolutionary romance. Recently, I was watching a film called “Cristiada” and it was telling about the events that took place in Mexico in 1920s. According to this film, the then President of Mexico, General Plutarch Elias Calles, had decided to close all Catholic churches and monasteries, persecute and torture priests, without any reason. Religious people rose against it, and guerrilla operations began, which was called Cristiada, by the name of fighting warriors, cristeros name. The fight eventually ended with success, and the Catholic Church regained its position in Mexico.
In reality, however, everything was not so romantic. Cristeros’ fighting methods were not absolutely spotless, during the Civil War they allowed exactly the same atrocities as the authorities, in addition, there were rumors that they were receiving moral and financial support from the Vatican. So, there are no angels in geopolitical or internal political struggle.
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ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
