Debate: Is Ukraine's Opposition a Democratic Movement or a Force of Right-Wing Extremism?

www.democracynow.org - Ukrainian anti-government protesters have rejected an amnesty bill aimed at ending the country's political unrest, refusing to vacate occupied government buildings and dismantle their street blockades in exchange for the release of jailed activists. The demonstrations in the Ukraine are collectively referred to as "Euromaidan." They began in late November after President Viktor Yanukovich reversed his decision to sign a long-awaited trade deal with the European Union to forge stronger ties with Russia instead. While the Ukrainian opposition has been hailed in the West as a democratic, grassroots movement, we host a debate on whether the rush to back opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin obscures a more complex reality beneath the surface. We are joined by two guests: Stephen Cohen, professor emeritus of Russian studies and politics at New York University and Princeton University; and Anton Shekhovtsov, a Ukrainian citizen and University College London researcher who has just returned from observing the protests in Kiev.
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[@frederickhartray9701]

Cohen was right then, he is right now.

[@Jadeserphant]

I found this on day 2 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This really answered a lot of my questions and gave me info on both sides. That has become extremely hard to find these days. Thanks. I subscribed, and I'm looking forward to hearing debates instead of someone just pushing one opinion.

[@truthfiction8408]

Professor Steven Cohen, what an interview. Wherever you are today, posterity will remember you with kindness, you warned and foretold all that is happening today.

[@Deb.L.]

Stephen Cohen

[@teddylee1218]

I Tought USA had their dirty hands in this

[@JL-ix5io]

This aged well for Cohen. Spot on.

[@artiezonk]

R.i.p. Mr. Cohen

[@garretttobin7451]

It's very obvious to anyone who looks into the history of this conflict that it is far from simple.

[@halon7476]

This aged well

[@vavafilho]

I wonder if Anton would repeat the same words after the far-rights parties sworned in power with three ministries. All thanks to "Maidan Revolution". History has no mercy with naive people.

[@jessiejb4684]

An opposition politician who supplied protesters with gasoline for Molotov cocktails and other weapons was made head of internal ministry of the coup gov. He then went around the east part of the country with his hired paramilitary thugs, kidnapped and beat local officials who didn’t sufficiently suppress actual peaceful protests. He then bussed his thugs to beat protesters in the south and east (Odessa massacre-may 2nd 2014) and then armed them with tanks, machine guns, and rpg’s (Mariupol-May 9th 2014). U.s. state dept press secretary praised every bit of the military action against the population and “showing great restraint”.

[@Terskov]

Bravo STEPHEN F. COHEN !!! RESPECT !!!

[@Lululemon2023]

Wow, exactly like what happened in HK for over a year. The Ukrainian playbook is currently practiced in Thailand and a few countries neighbouring China.

[@VolcanicPenguin]

Now that I've watched this I have no idea what's going on in Ukraine lol.

[@maxmakenzi]

8:20

[@Dumpsteret1]

Mr. Cohen was right. Yatsenyuk, Yanucovych's immediate successor, resigned a few months later in a vote of no confidence because the Ukraine Parliament rejected the EU-IMF deal for the same reason Yanucovych rejected it. Harsh austerity that would have ruined Ukrainain, and thee career of any politician that signed their name to it.

[@alexoborin1]

DEMOCRACY SHOULD GO TO USA, WHERE LOBBYCRACY IS THE RULING POWER, DEFENDING INTEREST OF WALL STREET.

[@tatianalyulkin410]

And that was the beginning of the end.

[@orthodium]

good debate, with diverse sets of view points. thanks DM!

[@TheHootanic]

This shit has been going on too long