Saskatchewan’s Ukrainian community weighs in on escalating violence in Kyiv
Members of Saskatchewan’s Ukrainian community say they’re disappointed peaceful protests in the country’s capital city of Kyiv turned to mass violence over the weekend.
Violence between anti-government demonstrators and police forces erupted on Sunday night and carried into Monday after the passing of what protesters are calling an anti-protest law, which significantly increased fines and imposed jail terms for unauthorized street protests.
On Monday, hundreds of protesters, many wearing balaclavas, hurled rocks and stun grenades and police responded with tear gas.
Iryna Matsiuk, who moved to Canada in 20ll and currently lives in Saskatoon, said she’s not concerned for her friends or family, but she is concerned for her country’s future as a democracy.
“Obviously we’re disappointed and sad that, unfortunately, the president, the cabinet ministers and the government took this action against protesters,” said Matsiuk, citing two months of peaceful protests with no government response.
“I’m not concerned about safety, I’m concerned about the country and the future and about the well-being of those who are taking active action.”
While protests started in November 2013 were first targeting a decision by Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych, to shelve a trade agreement with the European Union to focus on ties with Russia, Matsiuk feels the focus has shifted to the government’s anti-democratic treatment of demonstrators.
“Right now, I call (the protests) not pro-European, but pro-Ukrainian,” she said.
Others, like Saskatoon resident, Pavlo Marchak, who moved to Canada in 2011, said he was disappointed by the violence, but he wasn’t surprised by it.
“In general, I think it’s really dangerous to be there, but from another way, I’m happy because more and more people in Ukraine understand that they are the first power and they are the source of power,” he said.
“Of course I’m not happy to hear that there are so many violent situations out there, but I expected to have it, because there is so much tension.”
Matsiuk and Marchak said while they hope government and protesters can come to a peaceful resolution, both feel the situation will worsen before it improves.
With files from the Canadian Press