The anti-Maidan ( Ukrainian : Антимайда́н , romanized : Antymaidan ; Russian : Антимайдан , romanized : Antimaydan ) refers to a number of pro-Russian demonstrations in Ukraine in 2013 and 2014 that were directed against Euromaidan and later the new Ukrainian government. The initial participants were in favor of supporting the cabinet of the second Azarov government , President Viktor Yanukovych , and closer ties with Russia . By the time of the Revolution of Dignity in February 2014, the “anti-Maidan” movement had begun to decline, and after the overthrow of Yanukovych , the anti-Maidan fractured into various other groups, which partially overlapped. These ranged from people protesting against social ills, to supporters of a federalization of Ukraine, to pro-Russian separatists and nationalists .
60-510: A pro- government counter protest reportedly gathered 10,000 people on 25 November. The Party of Regions allegedly paid ₴100 to its supporters to participate in a three-hour rally, with supporters calling for "building Europe in Ukraine [...] but on terms and conditions favourable for Ukraine". According to the Kyiv Post , demonstrators held anti-EU and homophobic banners. On 29 November
120-519: A 2-hour 3,000 people strong pro-government rally took place on European Square . Party of Regions member of parliament Vladyslav Lukianov told the crowd: "I'm sure that our movement to Europe will never change. We support this choice. Let the land shatter from our steps. Together we will win". The Kyiv Post again reported incentives were given to attend and described attendants in appearance "to be homeless; still more look drunk. The crowd consists mostly of men". Euronews spoke of many being "bused in from
180-788: A 24 November 2013 rally against signing agreements with the European Union. Communists who attended set up tents near the statue of Lenin in Kyiv , intending to protect it from vandalism. On 25 November in Sevastopol the Russian Bloc and the Communist Party of Ukraine organised an "antimaidan". The meeting was conducted in support of joining the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia . Previous rallies by
240-427: A caretaker government. Prime Minister Azarov was replaced by deputy prime minister Serhiy Arbuzov . But under Ukrainian law the cabinet could be able to implement its duties for no more than 60 days. The compromise deal of 21 February 2014 between president Yanukovych and the opposition stipulated that a new national unity government was to be formed within ten days. Also on 21 February 2014 parliament dismissed
300-533: A considerable share of people in the regions was "controlled by the Donetsk Clans " who capitalized on the population's grave economic situation, that the author actually considers a result of the rule of said (oligarch) clans. Common people there had had few genuine encounters with the democratic world and fell victim to "foreign history: myths about "fascists", "Banderites", " Gayrope ", "kike-NATO" and " Pindosia ". According to her, "these myths made them go to
360-462: A lawmaker from the Party of Regions. Another rally by supporters of the Party of Regions began on 13 January 2014 and continued until the adoption of the state budget for 2014 on 17 January. According to the organisers people are attending the rally because they want "stability in the country" and believe that it is unacceptable to hinder the adoption of the state budget. Protesters are planning to spend
420-496: A new term as prime minister. This nomination was approved by parliament on 13 December 2012. According to Svoboda, that voted absolutely against Azarov, his appointment is illegal at least due to such technicality in the law of Ukraine which requires the president of Ukraine to be physically present in the session hall of parliament during his candidacy approval by the Verkhovna Rada . The People's Deputy of Ukraine from
480-489: A palatial home. At the event, Party of Regions MP Hryhoriy Smitiukh called attendees to appeal to Russian president Vladimir Putin to lower the price of gas in Ukraine, and engaged the crowd in a chant of "Putin! Putin!" Organisers claimed over 100,000 attended; police estimated 60,000 attended, which was also estimated to be the maximum capacity of the square; eyewitnesses placed the attendance as low as 20,000. At 6:00 p.m. Party of Regions head Oleksandr Efremov announced
540-605: A personal decision to ask the Ukrainian president to accept my resignation from the post of Ukrainian prime minister". Under the Ukrainian constitution this meant the whole government had resigned. The president subsequently accepted the resignation and signed a decree dismissing the cabinet, which decree would not take effect until the Verhovna Rada approved a new cabinet. Hence the second Azarov government continued as
600-456: A pre-determined time. In one incident on 8 December, protesters were held at the rally against their will by armed security. Speaking on condition of anonymity to the Kyiv Post , one demonstrator said that participants of the rally are paid ₴300 or more in order to earn money without going to work. She also recalled cases when they were not let outside the rally for the whole day, while inside
660-413: A pro-government rally there. According to city police, there were some 3,000 people in the park the day before., and the press estimated them at 2,000. Police heavily guarded this event from not only anti-government protesters, but also from any journalists and on-lookers. According to Segodnya , people attending the pro-government Marinsky Park event were hired or obliged to attend, and forced to stay for
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#1732790898872720-451: A rally on European Square under the banner "Let's Save Ukraine". The move to create a second rally in the city by officials was condemned by former president Leonid Kravchuk . According to party officials, 20,000 were expected to come from Donetsk and 10,000 from Dnipropetrovsk Oblast . Many others were expected to arrive from the Crimea , Odesa Oblast , and a number of other regions. In
780-633: A small antimaidan rally was held by the Russian Bloc and Communists in Mykolaiv . At a 25 November rally in Luhansk , protesters were met with resistance from a group of Don Cossacks , who were against EU membership and referred to pro-EU protesters as fascists. A 1 December Communist rally in Donetsk gathered about 200 mostly elderly supporters who chanted: "The union of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus
840-435: Is inevitable". The following day, Communist Party of Ukraine MP Antonina Khromova made statements at the Donetsk regional council, approving the use of force to remove protesters in Kyiv, which was met with applause. She continued by saying that Ukraine does not need European values , namely, "same-sex marriage" and "African panhandlers". The Sevastopol city council, on the initiative of the Russian Bloc, opted to appeal to
900-588: Is now in the government was foreseen and mentioned by the Ukrainian television studio Kvartal 95 in October 2012 in one of their episodes of Evening quarter . According to Anders Åslund , the government faced three big tasks: to govern, to break Ukraine's foreign isolation and to salvage the country from a vulnerable financial situation. In December 2012, he observed "little reason to believe that it can solve any of these three tasks". Communist Party faction leader Petro Symonenko stated on 28 December 2012 that
960-505: The 28 October 2012 parliamentary election . A number of government members, including Prime Minister Azarov, were elected to parliament in that election. In order to get these parliamentary mandates, they were obliged to submit documents on the dismissal from their previous job to the Central Election Commission within 20 days after the election (by 3 December). On 9 December 2012, Yanukovych nominated Azarov for
1020-591: The Donetsk Regional State Administration and the Party of Regions was to be held in Donetsk on 2 December, but was cancelled due to failure to organise enough people. On 3 December, 1,000 attended a rally in Kyiv put on by the Party of Regions to support the president. The same day, it was reported by journalists of Espreso.tv that a Party of Regions organised rally in Kyiv was paying ₴200 to participants via online job postings. On 4 December, 15,000 rallied in Donetsk in support of
1080-478: The Euromaidan . "People stand at Euromaidan protesting against the violation of human rights in the state, and they are ready to make sacrifices," said Oleksiy Haran, a political scientist at Kyiv Mohyla Academy in Kyiv. "People at Antimaidan stand for money only. The government uses these hirelings to provoke resistance. They won't be sacrificing anything." Ukrainian linguist Svetlana Zhabotynskaya opined that
1140-557: The anti-maidan represents all of Ukraine, whereas Euromaidan as a whole only represents Lviv, Ternopil, and Ivano-Frankivsk. He then stated that the majority of Ukraine supports the president, the government, and no longer has interest in European integration. Another rally by supporters of the Party of Regions (planned to bring up to 10,000 attendees) in Mariinskyi park began on 21 January 2014 against an alleged attempted "coup" by
1200-574: The Anti-Maidan so as to defend Yanukovich first and thereafter stand up for the Russkiy mir ". After the overthrow of Viktor Yanukovych in the Revolution of Dignity , the anti-Maidan movement split into different, but sometimes overlapping movements, encompassing protest groups mobilised by social grievances, supporters of federalisation in Ukraine, and Russian separatists. After the success of
1260-564: The Communist Party of Ukraine and the Party of Regions had not concluded any agreements concerning the Communist support of Mykola Azarov's candidacy for the post of Prime Minister but that his party had supported this nomination because Azarov had told them his government was ready to implement the program on Ukraine's accession to the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia . Symonenko added that should Azarov fail to fulfill
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#17327908988721320-765: The EU had insisted on 'unacceptable conditions' sign the AA, including the introduction of gay marriage and laws protecting sexual minorities. "The opposition leaders are telling fables when they say that we only have to sign the [association] agreement [with the EU] to start traveling to Europe visa-free the next day. Nothing of the sort. We have yet to comply with a whole set of preconditions: we have to legalise same-sex marriages, we have to adopt legislation on equality of sexual minorities, and so on. Is our society ready for this?" Azarov said. Azarov has subsequently decamped to Vienna, where he maintains
1380-748: The Euromaidan demonstrators " Nazis " and " Banderites ". On 14 December the leaders of the Russian Bloc and Russian Unity met with the Consul General of Russia in Crimea, Vyacheslav Svitlychny, and declared the preparation of an antimaidan to demand the secession of Crimea from Ukraine. On 26 January 2014, 1,000 people gathered in Donetsk, supported by local Regions supporters, communists, and Russian Cossacks ; clashes caused some injuries. In January 2015, an Anti-Maidan movement in Russia said it
1440-458: The Euromaidan protesters. It is planned to continue until the end of the 2014 Hrushevskoho Street riots . On 25 January, a pro-government antimaidan was held in Mykolaiv , with attendees largely described as mostly young men, athletic, and appearing to be titushky . The crowd of 400 spoke out against fascism and held signs promoting the unity of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia . The Communist Party of Ukraine planned to gather 2,000 supporters to
1500-758: The Minister of Internal Affairs Vitaliy Zakharchenko . On 22 February 2014 the Ukrainian parliament appointed Oleksandr Turchynov as a coordinator of the Cabinet of Ukraine (Serhiy Arbuzov was not dismissed from his position). The same day the Verkhovna Rada adopted number of laws which appointed parliamentary commissioners in control of several state agencies such as Ministry of Defense ( Volodymyr Zamana ), Security Service of Ukraine ( Valentyn Nalyvaichenko ) and Prosecutor General 's office ( Oleh Makhnitsky ). Parliament also appointed Arsen Avakov as
1560-538: The Ministry of Defense, and in a separate report by Zerkalo Nedeli it was revealed that the Ministry of Defense had been conducting training exercises over the previous two days, including taking inventory of equipment (ex. field kitchens, vehicles) for support of the pro-governmental protests. Resources were also transferred to Ukpromakord , the food supplier of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Further, on
1620-493: The Party of Regions for the weekend event to transport supporters from across Ukraine to Kyiv. Opposition leaders Arseniy Yatseniuk and Ihor Miroshnychenko issued a warning, citing inside information, that authorities were planning to use the large pro-government rally in order to start a civil conflict and justify issuing a state of emergency , which would require the use of Berkut riot police and military to clear European Square and Maidan. Yatsenyuk specifically warned against
1680-575: The President and the Government of Ukraine to reorient foreign policy towards Russia and its Customs Union. The Russian Bloc has also demanded the resignation of Minister of Education Dmytro Tabachnyk, for not preventing students from taking part in the Euromaidan protests. On 8 December, the "Russian Community of Sevastopol" organisation held a rally in support of Berkut anti-riot troops who made headlines for assaulting students and journalists in Kyiv
1740-654: The Revolution of Dignity, “anti-Maidan” movements continued in southern and eastern Ukraine, where “anti-Maidan” movements engaged in clashes with pro-Maidan demonstrators. These clashes during the pro-Russian unrest ongoing in these regions erupted into violence, such as the 2014 Odesa clashes , eventually escalating into the Russo-Ukrainian War . By 2015, a pro-separatist social movement had emerged in Russia called “ Anti-Maidan ”, consisting of pro-Russian, (often high-profile) Ukrainians who left for Russia in
1800-549: The Russian Bloc in the weeks prior included EU flag burning and anti-government, and anti-Ukrainian rhetoric, On 26 November, another antimaidan protest was organised in Donetsk , attracting only 30 student protesters. Organisers stated that the European Union had ruined the economies of new members, and that joining would bring corruption and gay marriage. The protest was counter to the pro-EU EuroMaidan protest 200 meters away, which attracted no more than 50 protesters. The next day,
1860-555: The State Service for Youth and Sports, creating a Ministry of Education and the (new) Ministry of Youth and Sports. On 2 July 2013 Oleksandr Lavrynovych was elected as member of the Supreme Council of Justice of Ukraine . Olena Lukash replaced Lavrynovych as Justice Minister 2 days later. After on 28 January 2014 Prime Minister Mykola Azarov was replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov all ministers in
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1920-438: The Ukrainian government's policy mix had "generated large external and fiscal imbalances" and that this had "contributed to deepening the recession in the country". When the cabinet took oath 24 December 2012; till 5 February 2013 the posts of Minister of Culture and Minister of Industrial policy were vacant. On 28 February 2013 President Viktor Yanukovych reorganized the Ministry of Education and Science, Youth and Sports and
1980-629: The Ukrainian television channel TVi that the communists absolutely will not vote for any candidates for the prime minister of Ukraine from the Party of Regions . On 13 December, absolutely all members of the Communist Party of Ukraine voted as one for the candidacy of Mykola Azarov as the Prime Minister of Ukraine. On 24 December 2012, the second Azarov government was appointed by president Yanukovych (Presidential Ukase #726/2012 ). The coalition of Party of Regions and Ukraine – Forward! as it
2040-537: The acting Minister of International Affairs. Also on 22 February 2014 parliament expressed no confidence to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Viktor Pshonka following his dismissal from the post. On 23 February 2014 the Verkhovna Rada dismissed the Minister of Healthcare Raisa Bohatyriova . It also dismissed the Minister of Education and Science Dmytro Tabachnyk On 24 February 2014 (revoted on 24 February) Minister of Foreign Affairs Leonid Kozhara
2100-409: The camp there was a build up of garbage and dirty toilets on the grounds. Mark MacKinnon , senior international correspondent for The Globe and Mail , attempted to interview a demonstrator at the ongoing Anti-Maidan, but although was refused the demonstrator indicated to him that she actually supported the Euromaidan protests. In parliament on 13 December Svoboda leader Oleh Tyahnybok said people on
2160-529: The city carrying students and teachers to participate in the pro-government rally; students, some from the Odesa Law Academy, admitted they would receive school credit for attending; others would receive financial compensation. It was similarly reported in Luhansk that over 1,000 had departed via rail, and those attending were largely coal miners from the region. Luhansk mayor Sergei Kravchenko in an address stated that over 1,500 residents would support
2220-809: The day of the event witnesses reported and photographed 40 military field kitchens serving pro-government supporters in Mariinskyi Park. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov spoke at the rally and told attendants that Ukraine did not decline its goal of integrating to the EU: "We're allegedly betray Ukraine and sign [the agreement on joining] the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia. I strongly deny these speculations". He referred to statements that Ukrainian authorities were planning to join this Customs Union as " profiteering ". Azarov also urged, "Don't divide Ukraine, don't build barricades". Azarov also said
2280-415: The east of the country where pro-Russian sentiment is strong. They, too, carried national flags as well as those of the ruling Party of Regions". Many in the crowd refused to talk to Euronews. On 30 November, several thousand protesters had been brought into Kharkiv on buses to stage a rally to support the government on Freedom Square . Some 170 buses were reported on the scene, and the number of attendees
2340-455: The end of the meeting, a day earlier than planned. By the end of the rally, only 3,000 remained, and by the evening European Square was deserted. The rally on 15 December ran from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and there were various reports that attendees were not paid in full for their time. "People came to express their will. We paid them Hr 300 per day. I did not promise any money to them, I am here with my voters," said Artur Martovytskiy,
2400-475: The events of the weekend. In an interview by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty with an attendee on the day of the event, the subject (who taught boxing) revealed that he and a group of others were offered ₴1,000 by organisers to instigate a fight with protesters on Maidan. The Interior Ministry's press service told the Kyiv Post on 13 December that the pro-government rally received permission to have up to 200,000 in attendance. According to Zerkalo Nedeli , one of
2460-461: The government at the rally. Meanwhile, in Zaporizhzhia , it was reported that a train packed with 1,600 "athletic men and workers of state enterprises and companies" was departing to Kyiv. Conductors said it was a private, rented train with tickets not available to the public. In a list released by journalist Tatiana Honchenko, a total of 27 trains, each with on average 20 cars had been rented by
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2520-446: The government payroll in medical, education and other sectors (the so-called "byudzhetnye" sectors) were being bullied into coming to a planned pro-government rally that weekend; Speaker of parliament and Party of Regions member Volodymyr Rybak responded, saying that it is wrong to pressure people and it has to stop. On 23 December, the pro-government rally ended. On 14 December the Party of Regions announced that they intended to hold
2580-457: The group under threat of dismissal. On the day of the rally, UDAR MP Roman Chereha accused officials of bringing in children from shelters, promising them food and shelter. On 13 December, the Donetsk regional organisation of The Party of Regions said that people wishing to go to Kyiv would be provided food rations and would be transported on a specially commissioned train, paid for by the party. In Odesa, several trains carrying roughly 3,000 departed
2640-415: The lead up to the rally, it was reported on 12 December that "thousands" of residents from Dnipropetrovsk (mostly government employees, students of technical schools, and athletes) were traveling to Kyiv to join in the pro-government rallies. Those interviewed said they were doing so reluctantly, and only for two days, at a rate of ₴400–500 a day. It was also reported that state employees were coerced to join
2700-532: The nation's most influential newspapers, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and government ordered the Ministry of Defense to aid in the provision of security, logistics, deployment of field kitchens, and transportation of 200,000 civilians to hold a pro-government rally in Kyiv on the weekend of 14–15 December. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is said to have been requested to aid in
2760-508: The night in the tent city in Mariinskyi park . According to the organisers participants in the rally were collecting signatures that will be sent to the Kyiv city council with the request to free the center of Kyiv of demonstrators, including Khreshchatyk and Maidan Nezalezhnosti . The organisers stated that the protesters were in favour of a peaceful solution to this issue and were against
2820-411: The parliament voted on 3 December 2013. After weeks of Euromaidan protests, and clashes, during which civilians were killed , Prime Minister Azarov offered his letter of resignation on 28 January 2014. According to his cabinet, Azarov was quoted saying that "In order to create additional opportunities for socio-political compromise, for the sake of the peaceful settlement of the conflict, I have made
2880-438: The parliamentary faction UDAR , Iryna Herashchenko , stated that all political appointments that took place that day are a "political bribe" of the party of power ( Party of Regions ) to the Communist Party of Ukraine . On 4 December 2012, nine days before the appointment of Azarov, a people's deputy of Ukraine from the Communist Party of Ukraine Spiridon Kilinkarov insisted on the political talk show Syohodni. Pro holovne on
2940-461: The police to create a safe buffer between the two rallies". However, a statement by Party of Regions MP Vadym Kolesnichenko acknowledged the creation of vigilante groups being formed in the south-east of Ukraine and across Crimea to "protect public order and the Constitution", and that one such group in Sevastopol already had already amassed 800 recruits; adding that they would be involved in
3000-450: The president, many of whom were bussed in. The Party of Regions denied any allegations of forcing anyone to attend. A rally and tent camp action in support of President Viktor Yanukovych and at initiative of the Party of Regions began on 3 December in Mariinskyi park located close by the Verkhovna Rada building (the parliament). The Party of Regions's press service reported on Sunday 6 December that over 15,000 people were taking part in
3060-472: The promise of Ukraine's joining this customs union, the Communists would initiate his resignation. In 2013 the government managed twice to survive the vote of no confidence from the Ukrainian parliament until finally the president of Ukraine accepted the resignation of prime minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov earlier in 2014. The first time the parliament voted on 19 April 2013. The second time
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#17327908988723120-522: The security for those coming to Kyiv from other regions of the country. The report was covered in the media by The Insider, UNIAN , and Ukrayinska Pravda . The Minister of Defense later denied these rumors, citing Article 17 and Article 37 of the Ukrainian Constitution , which prohibits the participation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in domestic political fights. Despite this, on 13 December tents were seen being set up on property owned by
3180-539: The use of hired thugs ( titushky ) who will infiltrate and start to wreak havoc in the pro-European encampment cloaked in either European Union or national colours. Opposition leader Yuriy Lutsenko, however, called for calm and assured that the pro-government rally will be attended by peaceful, state-paid employees and students. Oleksandr Yefremov , head of the Party of Regions parliamentary faction reiterated: "This will be an exclusively peaceful demonstration, our people are always easy to get along with ... we will also rely on
3240-482: The violent dispersal of the pro-European rally. Interfax-Ukraine reported on 13 January that about ten tents had been set up in the park and metal shields had been installed perpendicular to Hrushevskoho Street , with law enforcement officers standing behind them. Prime Minister Azarov criticised Euromaidan coverage in western media, and lack of attention to the 'anti-Maidan', "The Western media are paying attention to one square and do not pay for another," and said that
3300-419: The wake of the Revolution of Dignity. Successors to the “anti-Maidan” movement included: Second Azarov Government The second Azarov government ( Ukrainian : Другий уряд Миколи Азарова , Druhyi uriad Mykoly Azarova ) was the government of Ukraine from 24 December 2012 to 28 January 2014. It was dissolved amidst the Euromaidan protests. The ministers (except Prime Minister Mykola Azarov who
3360-458: The week prior. Leader of the group, Tatiana Ermakova, expressed outrage at the fact that, according to her, protesters provoked and attacked Berkut troops. "No country in the world would allow such lawlessness which, for the 17th day occurs on the Maidan," she said. The official statement from Russian Community specifically thanked the anti-riot troops for 'protecting us from the fascists', and called
3420-412: Was according to organisers allegedly over 70,000; news agencies reported the size of the crowd to be 40,000. The event lasted only 1 hour. Reports indicated attendees were paid ₴50 to attend, and reports indicated that many were public sector workers who did not attend on their own accord. The rally was both pro-administration and pro-European Integration. A rally in support of President Yanukovych held by
3480-511: Was dismissed by parliament and parliament a decision to dismiss the Minister of Social Policy Natalia Korolevska and the Minister of Culture Leonid Novokhatko . On 27 February 2014 Ukraine's parliament approved a resolution to dismiss the government. They immediately followed it by the appointment of the new cabinet members of the Yatsenyuk government . In December 2013 the IMF stated that
3540-567: Was ready to use violence to stop anti-government and pro-democracy protesters. The anti-Maidan movement was criticised by someas “a top-down initiative with protesters sometimes receiving remuneration for their participation”, alleging that the movement was not organic in nature and was supportive of the authoritarian government of Viktor Yanukovych. Several news outlets investigated the claims to confirm that by and large, attendees at pro-government rallies did so for financial compensation and not for political reasons, and were not an organic response to
3600-434: Was replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov (ex officio), continued briefly as a caretaker government. On 27 February 2014 Ukraine's parliament approved a resolution to formally dismiss the government. On 3 December 2012, the first Azarov government became a caretaker government after Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich accepted the resignation of prime minister Mykola Azarov and his government following
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