Political dictionary of Ukraine: who are the Maidanites?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

Who are the Maidanites? Who is called this new word? How do they differ from the people or active political forces? Let's figure it out.

What happened

To begin to understand who the Maidanites are, you need to study the events. What did people want? Why did you come to the Maidan? And the following happened. Power firmly

promised the people to follow the course of European integration. Naturally, the advantages of this direction were painted in the most iridescent colors. Then it suddenly became clear that this course is not so beneficial for Ukraine. The authorities decided to make a swift turn of one hundred and eighty degrees towards Russia. The people didn't like it. He began to pull himself up to the place that historically secured the role of a "shelter for peaceful protests" - Independence Square. There was only one requirement - to return to the previous course. By the landmark date - November 30 - it became clear that the authorities were not going to heed the voice of the people: the agreement was not signed. The meaning of the protests was lost, about a hundred young people remained on the square. And then it happenedunexpected turn. It was decided to rudely "clean up" this small group of peaceful guys. An armed attack on defenseless people had the effect of an exploding bomb. The protests took on a different meaning.

What do the Maidanites want

The dispersal of the people turned out to be just in time to breathe new meanings into the protesters. But rather, he proved to them that there is no longer any strength to endure the current authorities. All those who hate corruption, lawlessness and arrogance of the old regime began to gather on the Maidan. And during the reign of Yanukovych, there were many reasons. And unresolved problems of local self-government, and squeezing people out of business, and an uncompromising attitude towards dissent. All of this was implicitly accumulated among the people. An armed attack on a handful of students served as the fuse that ignited a popular revolt. Maidanovites, who began their speeches quite peacefully, demanding European integration, gradually formulated other goals. It became obvious that people are not satisfied not only with the external, but with any policy of the current government. The audience began to put forward clear demands for a change in the leadership of the country: early presidential elections, the resignation of the government.

Composition of protesters

I must say that the homogeneity of the Maidanites was observed only at the very beginning of the speeches. Over time, separate currents and groups began to separate from the general mass. So, who are the Maidanites? Who is going to the square? The largest group is the youth. These are people who grew up in Nezalezhnaya and absorbed its ideals. The course towards Europe was instilled in them from the cradle. In a different way, they do not live their livessee. This is a progressive, patriotic youth, mainly from the western and central regions. These people are standing on the Maidan not for money, but for an idea. The next group is representatives of the older generation. They came to protest for the second time. Disappointment with the results of the "orange" revolution, the armed dispersal of peaceful protests caused righteous indignation among this category of citizens. They came to defend their freedom. Another thing is the nationalists. This is the ideological basis of the Maidan. They inspire and set everyone else up. Their position: if not me, then who? Such Maidanists joined the ranks of the Right Sector, not allowing the protests to fade once again, when the authorities met all their demands.

Distribution of movement across the country

Beginning in the center of Kyiv, the protest quickly spread throughout Ukraine. To help the Maidanites, actions began to be organized, first in the western, and then in the eastern regions. The activity of the people in different regions is different. This suggests that for 23 years Ukraine has not been able to acquire a solid statehood. Too different ideals guide people. If the West unanimously aims at Europe, the East hesitates, believing that it will be better with Russia. Crimea completely "broke away". This is a special territory where the Maidanists have never been recognized.