Domestic responses to the Euromaidan

Below are the domestic responses to the Euromaidan. Euromaidan was a wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine that began on the night of 21 November 2013 after the Ukrainian government suspended preparations for signing an Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the European Union.

Government response

President

President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych called for calm in a 25 November televised interview, after skirmishes between riot police (who had fired tear gas at protesters) and demonstrators who had hurled traffic cones and rocks at security forces. On 27 November, Yanukovych stated "I applaud those who came out into the streets in support of European integration but there are also those who turned up to solve their political problems, who had flags and slogans which they will use for the 2015 presidential elections. I could see that very clearly".

In his address to the Ukrainian people, President Yanukovych stated that he is deeply outraged by those events that took place at night at the Independence Square (violent crackdown on protesters) on 30 November. "I condemn the actions that led to violent confrontation and suffering of people. I demand from the General Prosecutor urgently provide me and the Ukrainian society with results of immediate and impartial investigation for appropriate punishment", stated Yanukovych. Following the 30 November violence, Serhiy Lyovochkin, Chief of Staff of the Yanukovych administration, resigned from his position within hours of the event. But President Yanukovych turned down his application for resignation and Levochkin continued his tasks.

On 2 December 2013, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and President Yanukovych agreed that "a peaceful and political solution is the only way for Ukraine out of the current situation", and, according to the EU, Yanukovych "explicitly confirmed the intention to investigate into the use of force by the Ukrainian police and to inform the public about the results". In an interview with journalists from four TV channels he called on government and opposition to unite in investigating and identify what he called "provocateurs" "hiding behind children" and he stated "As for the people who came out to the rallies, any show of public will is always confirmed by everybody's freedom and right to speak their mind. It doesn't matter if it is the representatives of the government, law enforcement agencies or the participants of the rallies – all must respect the law".Yanukovych: 'bad peace better than good war' in Ukraine
Euronews (2 December 2013) "I am convinced that a bad peace is better than a good war," was also added.

On 10 December, President Yanukovych stated "All responsibility rests with the incumbent authorities today" and "I always try to be impartial in my judgments. This is really a matter of principle for me" but also added "Frankly speaking, I want to turn over this unfortunate page and never allow this again…Surely, it's unacceptable to block roads, administrative buildings… The life of the country continues".

On 19 December, Yanukovych referred to Euromaidan as "This is not for the first time that there are attempts to seize power in the country through unconstitutional means" and added "I am opposed to representatives of other countries arriving and thinking that they can boss as they please - at Maidan or not at Maidan. I am utterly opposed to someone coming to us and teach how we should live here, we have always had enough wisdom, political will and, if you want, responsibility to the future generations".

On 19 December, Yanukovych stated "When we saw such an upsurge in society and when we saw Euromaidan, I said at the very start that there is nothing bad in this. This is the people's aspiration for a better life". And he added "Politicians, extremists, and various instigators started to gamble on this during this emotional outburst. We need to make conclusions from this all, and we are making them so as never to allow such cases in the near future. The Lord has given us this ordeal, and we should pass it with an open face and looking into the people's eyes".

In his New Years speech of 1 January 2014, Yanukovych stated "Through maidans and national panel discussions, political arguments and sincere dialogue we are moving the way of mutual understanding and national consolidation. Irrespective of the political affiliation, Ukrainians have demonstrated to each other and to the whole world their common responsibility for the destiny of the country". He added that Ukraine was continuing work over the Association Agreement with the European Union and that it "had restored the relations of friendship and brotherhood with Russia".

Presidential citations

Number of awards were issued out on January 22, 2014 by the President of Ukraine.

=Merited Jurist of Ukraine

=
* Lt Colonel Oleh Tatarov, Chief of police in Ukraine
* Mykola Dzhyha, former chief of investigation of the Gongadze Affair

=Medal "Defender of Motherland"

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* LT Denys Kolomiets, platoon leader of spetsnaz (Internal Troops)
* MAJ Valentyn Sirak, chief of military unit #3028 (Internal Troops)

Prime Minister

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov contrasted the EuroMaidan protests to those of the Orange Revolution of 2004, stating his government " nowsthat such events are financed, for example. If this is carried out within a legal framework, fine," he told Russian television on 24 November. "If all this is carried out in violation of the law, then, of course, the government will not act like it did in 2004, when the technology of overthrowing the lawful government was being worked out quite simply before our very eyes. In this case, we won't fool around." In a 26 November interview with Euronews, Azarov stated he was "not surprised" by the demonstrations "It was our government who drafted the agreement, and we were constantly explaining to our people why we were doing it. So it's quite natural that when we made our announcement a significant number of people took to the streets demanding that the process of European integration be continued. This active involvement of our people proves again that, in general, our policies on EU integration were correct".

On his Facebook page, commenting on the events of November 30, he stated that he is deeply outraged and worried what happened at night at the Independence Square. "Those details from various sides that I have at the moment, do not allow a clear conclusion: Who is responsible for this provocation", Azarov said. On December 1, Azarov claimed that the protesters were ignorant to the economics behind the decision to pull out of the EU Association Agreement, and that they were 'governed by myths and emotions'. The next day Azarov referred to the protests as resembling a coup d'état. On 3 December, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov assured parliament that neither he nor President Viktor Yanukovych ordered the dispersal of the rally. At the 5 December opening of the OSCE security group summit in Kyiv, Azarov dismissed the protests in Ukraine as usual, just like in any European country, and described the situation as a temporary inconvenience that will soon be overcome.Journalists protest outside a Kyiv OSCE security summit
, Euronews (5 December 2013)Uneasy OSCE meeting held amid Kyiv protests
, Euronews (5 December 2013) On December 6, Azarov stated: "...I have signals that people are not able to go home. For instance, they were brought to Kyiv and have no money to return home. We are ready to allocate some money and help everyone who wishes go home..."

On December 30, Azarov claimed "We have received reliable levers to stabilize the financial and economic situation in the state, continue to modernize our economy and, finally, create a free trade area with the European Union on strong positions, while having a free trade area with the CIS".

On 15 January 2014, Azarov stated "There is artificial political confrontation in Ukraine, which is being fueled only with provocations from the opposition and support from certain, unfortunately, foreign figures"; he also concluded "During all this time the Maidan has not given any constructive proposals for the country and has not done anything useful for the people".Azarov: Maidan has no constructive proposals for Ukraine
Interfax-Ukraine (15 January 2014) He also demanded that a tough legal assessment of the use of children in political rallies be made (a girl who had been missing had been found back on Euromaidan, where she had been staying).

Azarov considers that people on the streets were shot by provocateurs. Azarov denies the fact that police were shooting at people, because police did not have authority to do so. He thinks that it could be provocateurs from number of extremists organizations.

Azarov offered his letter of resignation on 28 January 2014. According to his cabinet, Azarov was quoted saying that "In order to create additional opportunities for socio-political compromise, for the sake of the peaceful settlement of the conflict, I have made a personal decision to ask the Ukrainian president to accept my resignation from the post of Ukrainian prime minister". Following the resignation Serhiy Arbuzov became interim Prime MinisterSerhiy Arbuzov to head Ukraine govt pending premier's appointment
Interfax-Ukraine (6 February 2014)Ukrainian parliament delays vote on amnesty law until Wednesday
, Euronews (28 January 2014)

Azarov's same-sex marriage statement

Azarov stated on 14 December at a rally of supporters of the Party of Regions on European Square in Kyiv that in order to get a visa free regime with the European Union (EU), Ukraine should allow same-sex marriage and pass the equality act for sexual minorities.National governments, not EU establish family laws, says EU Delegation in Ukraine
Interfax-Ukraine (31 December 2013) An EU Delegation in Ukraine press release of 31 December stated the EU does not set family laws or get involved in moral issues "While some EU members decided to legalize same sex marriages, in others marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman. Ukraine agreed with the EU a set of laws to be adopted in order to allow visa liberalization. This includes anti-discrimination laws, but these have nothing to do with rules on marriage".

Ministers

On 26 November, Education Minister Dmytro Tabachnyk