Ukraine government declines help of international mediators

The Ukrainian political crisis entered its ninth day today as demonstrators expanded their occupied territory, barricading the streets to the Cabinet of Ministers building, the Presidential Administration and setting up tents and barbed wire outside the Internal Affairs Ministry. At least half a million demonstrators filled downtown Kyiv on Sunday, December 9. The otherwise peaceful protest involved the demolition the downtown monument to Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin.

The Ukrainian government has yet to offer any resignations in relation to last weekend’s beatings of peaceful demonstrators, while the opposition hasn’t freed any of its territory. Meanwhile, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has begun investigating “actions aimed at taking over state power in Ukraine.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Leonid Kozhara said on December 6 the government isn’t considering offers from international organizations to serve as mediators in the conflict, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. “We receive many offers, however I believe the opportunities for dialogue aren’t yet exhausted,” Kozhara said.

“If they will be exhausted, possibly we will take advantage of certain proposals. Today I don’t see the necessity of that.” Kozhara changed his position a day after asking German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle for help in negotiations with the opposition, Kommersant-Ukraina reported on December 9. Meanwhile, EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Minister Catherine Ashton will visit Kyiv this week, the Ukrayinska Pravda news site reported on Dec. 8.

The opposition won’t enter negotiations without the fulfillment of three demands, Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform (UDAR) Chair Vitali Klitschko said on December 6. They are the release of all arrested EuroMaidan activists, punishment of those police officers who beat peaceful demonstrators on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and the resignation of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Zenon Zawada: We believe the government has rejected the involvement of international mediators because it’s seriously considering physically removing the demonstrators, which wouldn’t be an option should Western negotiators get involved. A forceful solution would be a nasty affair involving tens of thousands of special police and internal army forces. However, it would be entirely in line with the current government’s style and such a method would have the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is rumored to have extended Yanukovych promises of macro-financial support as well.

Afterwards, some form of martial law would have to be imposed to prevent another revolt, reinforced by harsher repressions and therefore, more political instability. The Yanukovych administration would be better off at finding compromise with the opposition, but it has proven that that’s not its way of working.