Russian-oriented politicians mobilize on May 9 holiday in Ukraine

Ukraine’s Inter national television network broadcast
on May 9 a tribute concert to the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany that
included the host referring to Ukrainian nationalists as enemies of the public.
“Today we can’t allow our streets to be named after fascist criminals, and
their portraits be brought without punishment to torch marches in our capital,
where every meter is covered with the blood of our fellow citizens,” said the
host. The National Corps, a paramilitary nationalist organization, said it will
stage a protest of the broadcast at the house of MP Serhiy Lyovochkin, who is
among the owners of Inter, as well as the deputy head of the Opposition Bloc
parliamentary faction.

May 9 is a national holiday in the post-Soviet sphere
honoring the Red Army’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Since the Russian
invasion, the Ukrainian government has introduced a May 8 holiday to bring the
nation’s commemoration in line with the date recognized by Europe as V-E Day,
or the surrender of Nazi Germany.

Throughout Ukrainian cities, Victory Day commemorations
were centered around the march of the Immortal Regiment, which is intended to
keep alive the tradition of May 9 marches honoring World War Two veterans and
victims (which the Ukrainian government ended following Russia’s occupation of
Ukraine in 2014). These marches usually involve speeches and placards praising
the Putin administration and celebrating Russian culture. The Kyiv march was
led by MP Vadim Novinsky of the Opposition Bloc and Nestor Shufrych of the For
Life party.

Zenon Zawada: Ukrainian
President Poroshenko vowed to prevent the Kremlin’s influence in the campaign
for the 2019 elections. But as these events show, this will be impossible to
accomplish if Russian-oriented parties are allowed to compete. Not only do they
borrow most of their narratives, imagery and techniques from the Russian
government, but it’s widely accepted that they work in close cooperation with
the Russian mass media.

We expect an intense election campaign,
particularly for the parliamentary vote in October 2019, replete with scandals
and provocations that will likely lead to violent incidents.