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Extremism and Xenophobia of Ukraine’s Svoboda

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
UCSJ is a Washington, DC-based NGO that reports on the human rights situation in countries throughout Eurasia, exposing hate crimes & assisting communities in need.

by Leonid Stonov, International Director

August 2013

More than half a year has passed since the nationalist, right-wing, extremist party “Svoboda” (“Freedom”) became one of the main Ukrainian parties that crossed the parliamentary barrier and had a representative in a high position – vice-speaker of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament). What has happened to Ukraine? Why has a party that uses Neo-Nazi symbols and political violence become so powerful?

We need to remember that Svoboda ’s party leader, Oleg Tyagnybok, was elected to the former Rada in 2002. During the election campaign, he joined the Coalition around “Our Ukraine” Party (Yushenko Party). He was a member of the “Our Ukraine” faction, but in 2004 he was expelled from it because of his aggressive, anti-Semitic and chauvinistic rhetoric. The “Svoboda” party inherited many ideological views from the Neo-Nazi Social-National Party of Ukraine (SNPU) – especially anti-Semitism and Russophobia. This party insists on restoring the ethnic origin information in Ukrainian passports and supports the principle of ethnic-proportional representation in the structures of authority.

The interpretation of history plays a serious role in the party’s aims. They broke up events dedicated to covering the role of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UIA, Ukrainian abbreviation UPA) in the extermination of Polish people in the Volyn region in 1943. Recently “Freedom” Party broke up lectures of German historian Gzhegosh Rossolinsky-Liebe, who named OUN (Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists) ideology’s Fascist. As a populist party, “Svoboda” exploits slogans of social security and equitable re-distribution from oligarchs to Ukraine.

In recent times, many Party speakers claim that Jews organized the 1932-1933 Famine and they name their political opponents “kike’s mercenaries.” Besides Tyagnimok, another ideologist Yuri Mikhalchishin from Lviv is both an anti-Semite and a Nazi. He translated and published articles of Hitler regime “classics” such as Hobbles and Rem. Mikjalchishin named the Holocaust as a “bright period” in European history. In 2011, “Svoboda” took an active part in the anti-Semitic campaign against a Chassid, who made a pilgrimage to Uman (Cherkassy region) to the grave of the great tsadic Rabbi Nakhman from Bratslav. In 2012 and 2013, the party and its youth organization “Skolt” (“Falcon”) members organized many rallies and provocations in Uman. Many Jews were wounded and robbed. The Party also speaks out against homosexuals and immigrants.

Since 2009, the “Freedom” Party has been successful in local elections and was able to elect a number of deputies (for example, in Lviv Regional Council 41 deputies of 116 seats; in Ivano-Frankovsk – 17 of 114; some deputies in Councils in the regions Volyn, Rovno, Chernovtsy, Kiyv and Khmelnitsky regions). In the 2012 Parliamentarian election, “Svoboda” received 10.44% votes (37 seats in Verkhovna Rada) and many seats in local councils. Such success can be explained not by its strategy but by political context – the crisis occurring across the national-democratic spectrum in the post-Orange Revolution period. People were discouraged by Victor Yushenko, and later Victor Yanukovich’s, policies.

The “Svoboda” Party has an image of radical opposition and many new supporters of this Party are sure that it will transition into a moderate, national-democratic party. But even Rada deputies produce terrible anti-Semitic propaganda. For example, Igor Miroshnichenko, a Rada Deputy and member of the Party’s leadership, and Alexander Oronetz, Deputy Assistant and Party press-secretary, publicly spoke about “ethnic questions” in general and about Jews, particularly. They insisted that Kikes (they call Jews only Kikes) by birth hated Ukrainians, and that Kikes were grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the “Red Commissars” who killed Ukrainians. Jews were identified with Soviet (or Russian) Communism. German Nazis used the same ideological ideas in their preparation for exterminating all Jews. After the election, leaders of the “Svoboda” Party publicly, and in a very xenophobic style, expressed Antisemitic, Anti-Hungarian, Russophobic and Homophobic views. Party members and supporters participated in different attacks and violence toward their political opponents and human rights activists. This party continues to be radical and extremist with many Nazi symbols and ideological similarities. We need to continue the monitoring of this and other radical parties and groups in order to prevent public life in Ukraine from becoming completely fascist.

We can see a serious increase of hate crimes, but no objective statistics have been published. The authorities are not using Article 161 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (which criminalizes incitement to hatred, insults or discrimination based on nationality, race, or religion) in response to the “Svoboda” Party’s actions.

Vyacheslav Likhachev, chief UCSJ monitor in Kiev, helped with this report.

http://www.ucsj.org/2013/08/22/svoboda/
 

Steve

Well-known member
why is it some facts do not add up in these accounts..

Lviv council banned Nazi and Communist symbols

Deputies of the Lviv city council banned on April 26 the use of USSR symbols, communist and Nazi symbols on the territory of Lviv. 74 deputies voted in favour of the decision.

The resolution says that the matter concerns the symbols of "no longer existing state USSR," communist and Nazi symbols, used during mass events or hung out on buildings. Author of the resolution, deputy Yuri Mikhalchishin noted that "we must take a strong-willed decision and to declare European position."

He also reminded that last year deputies of the council took similar decision, but it was appealed by the prosecutor's office.

http://en.for-ua.com/news/2012/04/26/150033.html


Communist, Nazi symbols banned in Lviv

A similar decision was taken by the city council last year too

LVIV, April 26, 2012 (UBO) – A ban for the use of Communist and Nazi symbols on the territory of Lviv was adopted by city council deputies, UkrInform reported.



An issue, initiated by Svoboda Party member Yuriy Mykhalchyshyn was included into an agenda of the session as an additional issue, but, taking into account importance of the problem, the deputies considered it first,” the press office of the city council informed.



The ban also touched on the use of symbols of the non-existing USSR. Its symbols, like Nazi and Communist symbols, from this time on, are permitted for setting on the buildings of Lviv state and communal establishments, as well as for the use during mass events.



A similar decision was taken by the city council last year too. However, it was protested by the public prosecutor's office and appealed in the court. At that time, a ban for the use of Nazi symbols remained in force. However, a veto on Communist and USSR symbols was appealed.
http://www.ukrainebusiness.com.ua/news/5602.html

and that was just the first one I looked into..

he may have said some stupid things.. I don't know..
i did a search on this
" Mikjalchishin named the Holocaust as a “bright period”

on all of google I got two hits.. TWO the article you posted.. and it reposted on a blog... I dug a bit deeper and found there were several offensive comments attributed to him.. but most if not all the articles lead to the same two original articles. which are very similar in nature..





yet the guy two years in a row introduces a bill to ban nazi and communist symbols...


but his actions show a different side..

it is clearly the same guy in your article..

I am skeptical.. to say the least..

Do you believe he is a neo nazi ?
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Try this one Steve (but try not to quote from it too much...cause I might need it later.) :wink:

You must have seen this before, when you were checking the Wiki sources, on that quote you posted, didn't you?

Israel Journal of foreign Affairs VII : 1 (2013)

“Defending the Interests of the Ukrainians”:The Empowerment of the Svoboda Party
Irena Cantorovich

http://www.academia.edu/2461970/_Defending_the_Interests_of_the_Ukrainians_The_Empowerment_of_the_Svoboda_Party

In May 2011, Svoboda member and deputy of the municipality of Lviv IuriiMikhalchishin lectured to local students on “Partisan Warfare in the City.” Ona video of the lecture uploaded to the internet, a UPA ag can be seen behind
Mikhalchishin. He spoke of the achievements of Hamas and of ways to use Hamas’methods in Ukraine. He urged Ukrainians to support and honor Hamas
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Oh no, that's not good...

From the outset, the party platform was very anti-Russian and blamed Russia for all of Ukraine’s problems. The party’s most important goal was to combat the influence of Russians and pro-Russians on Ukraine. Its campaign materials included descriptions of the Ukrainian nation as the source of the white race and of Ukraine as an outpost of European civilization. These views continue to figure in the party’s ideology.
 

Steve

Well-known member
For example, in Lviv(Lwów), where in the summer of 1941 Ukrainian nationalists and members of the UPA [Ukrainian Insurgent Army] murdered and raped Jews on the streets, 8 Svoboda received 50 percent of the votes.

this is just plain insulting..

actions in 1941 being attributed to today..

few if any were even born by then..

but no throw the most inflammatory statement they can make and throw up a current event..

Germany was forgiven.. yet the Ukraine still is blamed for German/Ukrainian atrocities.. to this day

the Ukraine lost 7 million people during WWII

it was disgusting what happened back then.. those involved should have been hung..

but it is just plain wrong to assume and tie together the two actions..

but keep on posting something will finally stick..
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Steve said:
For example, in Lviv(Lwów), where in the summer of 1941 Ukrainian nationalists and members of the UPA [Ukrainian Insurgent Army] murdered and raped Jews on the streets, 8 Svoboda received 50 percent of the votes.

this is just plain insulting..

actions in 1941 being attributed to today..

few if any were even born by then..

but no throw the most inflammatory statement they can make and throw up a current event..

Germany was forgiven.. yet the Ukraine still is blamed for German/Ukrainian atrocities.. to this day

the Ukraine lost 7 million people during WWII

it was disgusting what happened back then.. those involved should have been hung..

but it is just plain wrong to assume and tie together the two actions..

but keep on posting something will finally stick..

context...

For example, in Lviv(Lwów), where in the summer of 1941 Ukrainian nationalists and members of the UPA [Ukrainian Insurgent Army] murdered and raped Jews on the streets, Svoboda received 50 percent of the votes. On many occasions, members of Svododa have extolled the killers as heroes.

In April 2009, posters praising the SSGalichina Division [14 Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS galizische] hung by the Lviv branch of Svoboda appeared on the streets of the city. The posters featured the division’s symbol and included the words “Ukrainian Galichina Division—They Defended Ukraine.”
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
For the life of me, I can't see why you are still defending Svoboda, even with what little you know about them Steve.

It's starting to make you look bad...

..bow out, I won't sing and dance.
 

Steve

Well-known member
there are radicals.. but they are a minority.. a fringe..

breakaways have been controlled by Russia for decades.. the culture is locked in time.

I asked before if you have ever been to Europe..

because with out spending time there it is hard to explain their radical nature..

but it is the fringe.. this party is at least trying to moderate..

and why is it the same names keep getting mentioned.. 12..

three of them have articles and actions that would defy logic..

on one hand you have an anti Semitic of the worst kind.. on the other he is pushing for a ban on the very same symbols and poster you are attributing to him..



it seems like every one of these "papers" you have posted copied each other...

blaming people today for atrocities in WWII by their ancestors is wrong..

and insulting to all the rest of the 2 million plus supporters ..

are you saying 40% of the country is radical nazis.. because that is the estimated size of the voting block know as the right sector..
 

Steve

Well-known member
hypocritexposer said:
For the life of me, I can't see why you are still defending Svoboda, even with what little you know about them Steve.

It's starting to make you look bad...

..bow out, I won't sing and dance.

I am not defending the radicals.. and you know it..

I am showing that you and the "papers" are blaming them for WWII atrocities..

personally I don't think you have a clue how Europe functions..
and how locked time it is..



177040189.jpg

A woman casts her ballot on October 28, 2012 in the village of Prybirs, some 100 km from Kiev
 

Steve

Well-known member
you are truly clueless..

you say you live in the real world.. well maybe you should get out and see it.. for as beautiful as this planet is there is some grime..

tell my you have NEVER said something crud.. told an off color joke.. a Jewish, priest joke.. a joke about a gay guy..

your "papers" are all the same content.. probably collection of complaints. a dozen people does not make a party or a nation.

I looked at them as objectively as I could with an open mind..
I didn't try to judge them, just as I don't try to judge others..

it isn't easy but I keep trying.

where were you raised.. a city? town

what gives you the right to say these few should tarnish the nation?


I started my life on the Indian reservation in Cherry Creek South Dakota..

you should visit I sometime.. I have seen about every hell hole on this planet..

I have seen hate.. stupidity.. and when you see hate you will know it.

I sit on here till all hours because I can't sleep,. haven't slept a good night in two decades.. I get an hour or two here and there.
my body is wracked with pain.. nerves shoot daggers through my joints. the other ones are shot.

but when I see these people struggling for FREEDOM it is worth it
if a few of them are knuckleheads oh well.. they will grow or die eventually.. either way Freedom will ring because of their efforts.





I won't judge these few even based on what I looked up half of the dozen are crud and say and think stupidly and are backwards for our time.. the other half of that dozen are racists. and ignorant..

In fact I doubt you even came up with twelve.

does twelve represent millions?.. 8 million people in their bloc.

.
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
yes, I have told crude jokes, don't think I have ever told a Jewish joke, don't think I even know one, and I for sure do not go around beating them up and yelling antisemeitc slurs at them.

When did I say they tarnish the nation?

Steve, they had freedom, they had democracy, they had a corrupt government, just like the US has, right now.

How are the other countries in Europe doing, being in debt to the IMF? That's what they have to look forward to now, and they will be lucky if there isn't a civil war in the next couple of years.

If they get their crap together, they can be a wealthy country, but my fear is they have struck a deal with a "socialist devil".

Much of their wealth will be redistributed to all of Europe,with the IMF pulling the strings.
 

Steve

Well-known member
When did I say they tarnish the nation?

you said it.. I commented on them over and over again ..

just in your last "paper" I said they should not be judged by the atrocities in WWII the Svobodo didn't rape fifty Jewish woman in WWII

so why should the region be judged on that standard?

and you took the actions of a few. 70 years ago.. in WWII and condemned the whole region.

the whole party.. over a poster. sure it was offensive. but just because it was near a Svobodo building doesn't prove anything.. it insinuates. it. but it doesn't prove it..



that has been what I am so upset about.. you have brought up WWII atrocities and linked them to the Ukrainians..

and you do not have a clue about the real radicals in those countries..

they have no god.. and with out a fear of GOD a person can do some awful things.

I haven't defend the radicals.. because I know what they are like.. and no one here would defend them.. but it isn't here.. and it isn't the same as here.



you are all judging the knuckleheads on our standards.. they have NEVER seen our standards..

if you don't know better how can you learn?


I didn't defend the bigots.. I put up FACTS that is it..

I didn't judge them.. you guys did.
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
yes, IMO, the Ukraine is a perfect "bridge", between Russia and Europe, economically, trade wise, culturally etc.

Hopefully they can pullback. A good starting point would be the Feb. 21 agreement...

And it was never an either or with EU and Russia, both had agreements, with Ukraine and Ukraine would have benefited from both, IMO.

Now they are in a spot where Russia has cancelled the $15B that they were going to give them for debt repayment and getting a package from EU, which they will have to hand over to Russia, for debt repayment. And no gas subsidized price.
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Steve said:
When did I say they tarnish the nation?

you said it.. I commented on them over and over again ..

just in your last "paper" I said they should not be judged by the atrocities in WWII the Svobodo didn't rape fifty Jewish woman in WWII

so why should the region be judged on that standard?

and you took the actions of a few. 70 years ago.. in WWII and condemned the whole region.

the whole party.. over a poster. sure it was offensive. but just because it was near a Svobodo building doesn't prove anything.. it insinuates. it. but it doesn't prove it..



that has been what I am so upset about.. you have brought up WWII atrocities and linked them to the Ukrainians..

and you do not have a clue about the real radicals in those countries..

they have no god.. and with out a fear of GOD a person can do some awful things.

I haven't defend the radicals.. because I know what they are like.. and no one here would defend them.. but it isn't here.. and it isn't the same as here.



you are all judging the knuckleheads on our standards.. they have NEVER seen our standards..

if you don't know better how can you learn?


I didn't defend the bigots.. I put up FACTS that is it..

I didn't judge them.. you guys did.



I did not judge the region by the Svoboda party...don't put words in my mouth.

But I don't think the Svoboda party should be in power, they are bad for the Country, just as obama should not be in power.
 

Steve

Well-known member
hypocritexposer said:
Steve said:
When did I say they tarnish the nation?

you said it.. I commented on them over and over again ..

just in your last "paper" I said they should not be judged by the atrocities in WWII the Svobodo didn't rape fifty Jewish woman in WWII

so why should the region be judged on that standard?

and you took the actions of a few. 70 years ago.. in WWII and condemned the whole region.

the whole party.. over a poster. sure it was offensive. but just because it was near a Svobodo building doesn't prove anything.. it insinuates. it. but it doesn't prove it..



that has been what I am so upset about.. you have brought up WWII atrocities and linked them to the Ukrainians..

and you do not have a clue about the real radicals in those countries..

they have no god.. and with out a fear of GOD a person can do some awful things.

I haven't defend the radicals.. because I know what they are like.. and no one here would defend them.. but it isn't here.. and it isn't the same as here.



you are all judging the knuckleheads on our standards.. they have NEVER seen our standards..

if you don't know better how can you learn?


I didn't defend the bigots.. I put up FACTS that is it..

I didn't judge them.. you guys did.



I did not judge the region by the Svoboda party...don't put words in my mouth.

But I don't think the Svoboda party should be in power, they are bad for the Country, just as obama should not be in power.

they are not all bad.. I gave several examples of decent people.
one won a human rights award. another was a Muslim.. another of Jewish descent..

you showed a dozen or so most should not be in any powers whatsoever.. and that isn't even a majority of their party.

what did you say. they had 35 seats.. so about a third

I researched a few of the others.. and found nothing derogatory on them. they came from all sectors of life..


and to top it off you are judging the marginal ones.. the ones not mentioned in any of the papers.. the other 24..
you are judging them by our standards.. they have NEVER seen our standards.

they were raised by the soviets.. and their standards.




big·ot
noun \ˈbi-gət\

: a person who strongly and unfairly dislikes other people, ideas, etc. : a bigoted person; especially : a person who hates or refuses to accept the members of a particular group (such as a racial or religious group)


Svobodo has some scum.. but I not only didn't judge them (like you did).. I showed facts that showed a different side of some

I didn't hate them.. I didn't defend their repulsive behavior.. I just showed the facts that contradicted your "papers"

how is that bigoted?













in their voting bloc they represent over 40%
 
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