Maidan tent camp in Kyiv became hotbed for FSB, expert says
As more and more Kyiv residents are for dismantling the tent camp and nasty-smelling barricades in the heart of the Ukrainian capital, the opposition from several hundreds of remaining settlers is growing.
Oleksandr Palij, a political expert, visited the camp site, writing this in Facebook Aug. 9:
“Already several settlers have told me today that the Russian-speaking separatists will come to Maidan and they will help them to enter Kyiv. The settlers are nowhere near patriotic and do not realize the seriousness of the war in Donbas.
They are basically freeloaders, ready to sell everything for hand-outs. They say they are paid by some shady public organizations. Some have mentioned Viktor Medvedchuk [avid pro-Russian politician, godfather of Putin’s children].
I believe, SBU’s intention to check the remaining settlers was quite timely.
1. The [revolutionary] spirit of the present Maidan is long gone.
2. The present settlers are mostly those who have lost their way in life. They cannot explain why they are still staying on the Maidan. Some are clearly mentally sick people.
3. Maidan has turned into a hotbed for Russia FSB. I saw a man, an alcoholic judging by his face, whom I had earlier seen carrying a Kalashnikov.
4. The settlers thrive on souvenir trade and provide cover to numerous kiosks near the Maidan camp.
WHAT’S TO BE DONE?
1. The spirit of Maidan must be preserved, not the stench [from the barricades that were built in the winter with rubbish]. We must build a memorial to Maidan fighters, leaving several tents as exhibits.
2. There should be a speakers’ corner where those willing could share their opinions.
3. Maidan fighters, not those unpatriotic and business-minded who are staying there now, should be given offices to represent their NGOs.
All this could help create an attractive memorial in the heart of Kyiv.