Meanwhile in Ukraine... Revolution.

[Nemo1024]

Regarding the detained journalists. Russia helped negotiate release of OSCE observers, now it asks OSCE to help release the journalists:

Moscow demands OSCE take measures to free journalists detained by Kiev
http://rt.com/news/159812-russia-journalists-ukraine-osce/

Reporter Sidyakin and cameraman Saichenko were performing their professional duties, covering events in southeastern Ukraine, when they “went missing,” the channel said in a statement.

The only thing Sidyakin managed to text was that “things look bad.”

After receiving the SMS message, the office immediately called Sidyakin, who accepted the call, but could not speak. He kept the phone connected, however, so that Moscow could hear that the journalists were being interrogated.

I wonder if OSCE will repay in kind or if they have any leverage over the Kiev nazis at all...


With this regard it very informative to read the interview with former presidential candidate Oleg Carev. I think this is one of the most important political statements of the past days:

Kiev Nazi authorities are only obstacle to peace in Ukraine – ex-presidential candidate
http://rt.com/news/159800-tsarev-ukraine-crisis-election/

He makes many very good points during the interview, here are some direct quotes:

With no candidate boasting support in both east and west Ukraine, any president elected on May 25 will be “a half-president,” he stressed.

“I called upon the current Ukrainian authorities to solve the country’s problems first; carry out a constitutional reform, disarm the militants, release over 400 of our activists from prison on amnesty, and organize an election after that,” the MP said.

...

“They gather their own representatives, who live in the southeast, and hold roundtables with them,” Tsarev said, adding that he and other actual leaders of protesters from the east aren't invited to take part in the discussions.

“They’re basically talking to themselves...There’s no real dialogue,” he added.

...

But the opposition leader stressed that protestors in eastern Ukraine aren’t looking for independence from their compatriots in the country's west.

“They just don’t want to be in the same country with the current authority,” he said.

...

“But it’s impossible to defeat the people by military means,” Tsarev stressed. “The army doesn’t want to fight against the people. In order to make the military obey orders, they deployed Nazis there, who shoot at self-defense forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic, and then fire at the soldiers, who refuse to fight.”

“The number of casualties in the ranks of the Ukrainian military has reached 1,000 people. And sooner or later...I think sooner rather than later, the Kiev authorities will be held responsible for the war crimes against their own people,” he added.

In the meantime, on to some light reading:  
Dmitrij Rogozin and his tweets continue to be entertaining:
https://twitter.com/Rogozin

Eвpoгoлyби и иx шeф - opeл-cтepвятник нepвнo кypят в oжидaнии, o чeм дoгoвopятcя китaйcкий дpaкoн и pyccкий мeдвeдь.

Eurodoves and their master - eagle-volture nervously smoke awaiting what the Chinese dragon and the Russian bear will agree upon.

A small hidden joke there: "Dove" in Russian is "golub'", which resembles "goluboj" - "blue", which in turn is a euphemism for "gay".  

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[mladen00]

The Hungarian prime minister is causing even more trouble for the Kiev junta.

Yeah Orban, because of Jobik must go right

[bryant.coleman]

The Hungarian prime minister is causing even more trouble for the Kiev junta.

Yeah Orban, because of Jobik must go right

It is not just the Hungarians. The other ethnic minorities, such as the Rusyns, Bulgars, Moldvins and the Romanians are also getting restless. Elections are due in Moldovia this year. If the pro-EU government loses to the pro-Russia faction led by Vladimir Voronin, then the Kiev junta can expect even more trouble in provinces such as Chernivtsi and Odessa.

[Nemo1024]

Maybe that is why there were some plaincloth stray Ukrainian border patrol servicemen without ids wandering on Transnistrian territory. Scouting ahead?

[Nemo1024]

Ukraine continues to harass and prosecute journalists, trying to stem the flow of information.

Journalists of TV channel Russia 24 got threatened by the Ukrainian authorities to leave the country until the 19th of May (today) or else they'll be prosecuted:
http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2014/05/19/n_6162213.shtml
Men in uniform already appeared in the apartment of one of the journalists, hinting that they got some documents about her commiting some severe crime and thet she'd better make herself scares.

Seems they are trying to get any non-conforming journalists from the country before the NATO-staged elections circus on the 25th.


Turchinov said that Ukraine prepares a claim against Russia for 100 billion dollars (did they already pay for the gas, to make any claims?)
http://www.novayagazeta.ru/news/1682243.html

While the minister of economic development of Russia Uljukaev stated today that Russia invested 200 billion dollars over the years in Ukrainian economy (including the rebated gas prices).
http://rbcdaily.ru/economy/562949991495932

[bryant.coleman]

Are there any reasons for Putin to support Poroshenko? I don't see any.

Front-Runner in Ukraine Election May Be Shifting Putin’s Stance

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/19/world/europe/frontrunner-in-ukraine-election-may-be-shifting-putins-stance.html

[Modus_operandi]

Ukraine continues to harass and prosecute journalists, trying to stem the flow of information.

Journalists of TV channel Russia 24 got threatened by the Ukrainian authorities to leave the country until the 19th of May (today) or else they'll be prosecuted:
http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2014/05/19/n_6162213.shtml
Men in uniform already appeared in the apartment of one of the journalists, hinting that they got some documents about her commiting some severe crime and thet she'd better make herself scares.

Seems they are trying to get any non-conforming journalists from the country before the NATO-staged elections circus on the 25th.


Turchinov said that Ukraine prepares a claim against Russia for 100 billion dollars (did they already pay for the gas, to make any claims?)
http://www.novayagazeta.ru/news/1682243.html

While the minister of economic development of Russia Uljukaev stated today that Russia invested over the years in Ukrainian economy (including the rebated gas prices) 200 billion dollars.
http://rbcdaily.ru/economy/562949991495932

Nemo1024, are you from Russia? To be precise: I'm not trying to undermine your opinion if you are - your opinion is your right. I'm just curious about your arguments for such thesis like "NATO-staged election circus".

[Nemo1024]

Nemo1024, are you from Russia? To be precise: I'm not trying to undermine your opinion if you are - your opinion is your right. I'm just curious about your arguments for such thesis like "NATO-staged election circus".

I am originally from RSFSR, but I've lived more than half of my life in a Western country. I am watching the situation develop from a Western viewpoint, yet I can read all the info coming from the East as well, both in Russian and Ukrainian.
As for the last statement, the election is going to be a circus with all the opposition candidates having been pushed / threatened out of the run. And the situation in Ukraine has a NATO-tainted Yugoslavia-style signature all over it... Now, just putting two and two together...


Journalists are accused of terrorism by the Ukrainian Nazi-backed forces.

The image resembles those of the western journalists captured by Taliban or whatnot. Only then there was an indignant outcry from the West. This time, the Western media don't tell about this happening.

[bryant.coleman]

Nemo1024, are you from Russia? To be precise: I'm not trying to undermine your opinion if you are - your opinion is your right. I'm just curious about your arguments for such thesis like "NATO-staged election circus".

I see no point in asking the nationality of posters here. Most of the Russians will support Russia and most of the Americans will support the US. But that has nothing to do with this thread. Everyone is free to post their opinions. I am from South Asia and I support Nemo1024's position here. Because, I believe that removing a democratically elected government and replacing it with some neo-Nazis does not augur well for the future of global democracy.

[Modus_operandi]

Nemo1024, are you from Russia? To be precise: I'm not trying to undermine your opinion if you are - your opinion is your right. I'm just curious about your arguments for such thesis like "NATO-staged election circus".

I see no point in asking the nationality of posters here. Most of the Russians will support Russia and most of the Americans will support the US. But that has nothing to do with this thread. Everyone is free to post their opinions. I am from South Asia and I support Nemo1024's position here. Because, I believe that removing a democratically elected government and replacing it with some neo-Nazis does not augur well for the future of global democracy.

Of course everyone is free to post. I wanted to know where those information came from - from which media, that's why I asked, no undermining at the table. It's an open discussion and I think that Nemo1024 didn't mind - he answered me politely.

About removing a democratically elected government: well, it depends what this government does and how it resembles its tasks given by society. Also, "neo-nazis" is a pretty biased term and pretty convenient for one side of this conflict, maybe too convenient. Of course the same applies to "russian brutal aggressors with Kalashnikovs" etc.

[Nemo1024]

First some news on the abducted reporters. I am pleased with OSCE's reaction:

OSCE calls on Kiev to free Russian journalists, ‘stop intimidating media’
http://rt.com/news/159960-osce-kiev-russian-journalists/

Mijatovic has condemned the harassment of journalists in Ukraine, noting that on May 15-16 a host of Russian journalists from Channel One, NTV, TVC and Zvezda channels were denied entrance at the country’s border despite “all of them have been accredited by the Ukrainian authorities for covering the presidential elections.”

Now, to answer Modus_operandi, regarding removing the government. Yanukovich agreed to limit presidential powers, take on board representatives from the opposition and conduct early presidential elections. All this happened on the 21s of February with European countries as mediators and witnesses:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26289318

On the 22nd he got removed from the office my a armed coup d'etat, while the same Western powers were praising this as the pinnacle of democracy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Ukrainian_revolution#Deal.27s_aftermath

Whatever Yanukovich's faults, he was, and still is, the legitimate majority-elected president of the Ukraine. What Yanukovich agreed to would have given Ukraine a peaceful and legitimate transition of power. Now, there is no hope for it, with the upcoming elections being conducted at gunpoint in a de-facto civil war state, with the votes being counted by unknown entities (to put it mildly), with journalists being harassed, finally with the pool of the candidates being limited to the pro-Western figures or placeholders unknown to the majority of the voters.

[bryant.coleman]

In Mariupol, street of the police station burned down, reports of multiple police killed, now renamed 'Heroes of 9 May'.



Outside Mariupol, a Ukrainian military vehicle reported involved in May 9 massacre bears Victory Day sticker:

[Balthazar]

At the summit of Big Eight Angela Merkel tried to tease Putin and said:
- Today I dreamed that I was appointed to be the president of Earth!
Obama assented:
- I dreamed that I was appointed president of the universe!
Putin sipped his coffee slowly and then calmly replied:
- I dreamed that I didn't approved anyone.

(C) Some russian youtuber, translation is mine.

[bryant.coleman]

Both Sides in Ukraine Standoff Call For New Tactics

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/both-sides-in-ukraine-standoff-call-for-new-tactics/500363.html

Putin's Promise to Withdraw Troops From Ukraine Border Leaves Observers Cautiously Optimistic

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putins-promise-to-withdraw-troops-from-ukraine-border-leaves-observers-cautiously-optimistic/500461.html

[Balthazar]

http://translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fvesti.ua%2Fstrana%2F52494-timoshenko-nanjala-samyh-aktivnyh-internet-trollej

[Nemo1024]

Putin's Promise to Withdraw Troops From Ukraine Border Leaves Observers Cautiously Optimistic

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putins-promise-to-withdraw-troops-from-ukraine-border-leaves-observers-cautiously-optimistic/500461.html

Interesting. My understanding of that order is that it was just a routine end of a routine spring military drills, with the troops returning to their regular dislocation points. Oh, well, if it helps the West.

EDIT: Yes, my assumption was correwect:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/rolling_news/2014/05/140520_rn_russian_troops_shoigu.shtml

I guess NATO will bemoan Russian troops presence on Russian territory, until the troops are withdrawn to Urals and the road to Mosco is covered with red carpet with NATO logo.

There's been a development on the detained journalists:
Russian journalists arrested for breaking ‘Kiev’s UN-marked helicopters’ news – report
http://rt.com/news/160072-russian-journalists-ukraine-arrest/

“The incident was discussed at the highest level. [SBU] was instructed to find the authors [of the footage] and to do everything not to allow them to work in those areas where the National Guard is deployed,” LifeNews quoted the source as saying.

#SaveOurGuys tops Russian Twitter, demands release of Ukraine-held journalists
http://rt.com/news/160108-saveourguys-hashtag-trending-twitter/

[bryant.coleman]

http://translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fvesti.ua%2Fstrana%2F52494-timoshenko-nanjala-samyh-aktivnyh-internet-trollej

lol.... great news. Means a lot for the Ukrainians, who are suffering from record inflation and unemployment. Poroshenko and Tymoshenko might hire hundreds of unemployed posters (one of them I believe is active in this thread as well). Any idea how much they are paying?

[Nemo1024]

Just read an interesting statement by Medvedev, that Russia is not going to guarantee territorial integrity of Ukraine as Russia never took such task upon itself or ratified any such agreements. What Russia need is to calm the situation down, to reach peace.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/rolling_news/2014/05/140520_rn_medvedev_ukraine.shtml
He also says that let EU/US/NATO come with guarantees first about not involving themselves in the internal affairs of Ukraine, not dragging it into NATO, not forbid use of Russian language in the country, that people in the East won't get slaughtered by some Right Sector.

Sound like the Russian bear is starting to get angry growl...

[bryant.coleman]

US journalist whitewashes Ukrainian neo-Nazism, claims American democracy based on nationalism

http://voiceofrussia.com/2014_05_19/US-journalist-whitewashes-Ukrainian-neo-Nazism-claimes-American-democracy-based-on-nationalism-1179/

Check this article below:

Nationalism Is Exactly What Ukraine Needs

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/117505/ukraines-only-hope-nationalism

[Nemo1024]

"For what <…> the majority of Ukrainians really lacked, then and later, was nationalism. Or patriotism, public spirit, national loyalty, national allegiance, whatever word you prefer: the sense that there was something special and unique about Ukraine, the feeling that Ukraine was worth fighting for," she writes.
Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/2014_05_19/US-journalist-whitewashes-Ukrainian-neo-Nazism-claimes-American-democracy-based-on-nationalism-1179/

Oh, more than enough of that. Bandera is not the only one. There was Petljura before him...

Here is a revisionist article on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symon_Petliura

And something closer to history:
http://www.jta.org/1926/05/27/archive/semion-petlura-leader-of-ukrainian-pogrom-bands-killed-in-paris
http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,731176,00.html

Fun fact:

On May 25, 1926 Petliura was slain with five shots from a handgun in broad daylight by the Russian anarchist of Jewish origin Sholom Schwartzbard in the center of Paris.

Yet, despite prosecution demanding death sentence for Schwartzbard, the jury cleared him of all charges, stating that "the killer of the murderer is innocent". During that court hearing many atrocities committed by Petlura and his bands came to light...

Now Jarosh, Kolomojskij, Ahmetov which to join the ignominiously glorious ranks of Petljura and Bandera....