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I was in the KGB . . . I’m retired now . . . President is nobody to me . . . Nobody. Honestly. I voted for my grandchildren. I have two. I voted for the sake of the future.
(44:49)
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Is Ukraine On The Brink Of Another Orange Revolution? – YouTube – 12/3/2013.
Documentaries : The Orange Chronicles
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The two dimensions in the Ukrainian conversation: 1) decency in governance; 2) economic survival.
Putin appears to believe in the ultimate power of money.
🙂
Money, of course, is the mafia god, and that god is no different in Caracas than it is in Damascus or Kiev: whatever they may have to do to get it, the “men of respect” get it and get it to work for them to get more of it.
Where the getting is piratical, the business is protected against the development of sufficient challenge, a large part of which begins with the control and spin of information likely to reach a constituency about to be captured, made dependent, infantilized, inhibited, patronized, and subjugated in the cause of the greater aggrandizement of the dictator.
It appears Ukrainians (and Russians) have approached a fork in time and must choose between a complacent acceptance of piratical dictatorship and its capricious and centrally manipulated governance or a more vigorous embrace of democratic governance with its uniform legal codes and fair and equal enforcement, open courts subject to expert and open review, tolerance of a broad and independent press, and, ultimately, governance responsive to the needs and will of whole cultures and the complex societies in which they must thrive.
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Undated links correspond with the date of the post.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, rebel leaders sign peace deal to end fighting – NY Daily News
Between Russia and the EU: Ukraine splits or dies – The Commentator
Ukraine’s $19-billion question of debt and corruption – Quartz
Yanukovich accepts calls for election to defuse Ukraine’s crisis – FT.com
Yanukovich announces early Ukraine poll but no deal yet with opposition | Reuters
Ukraine president announces early poll, reduced powers – Yahoo News
Timeline of key events in Ukraine protests – Europe news – Boston.com
Diplomatic talks in Ukraine end at dawn, a day after 100 may have died – CNN.com
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Kiev protests: frustrated Ukraine is caught between Russian brutality and EU self-interest – Telegraph Blogs – 2/20/2014.
Ukraine: protests at President Viktor Yanukovich’s party HQ – video | World news | theguardian.com – 2/18/2014.
Ukraine election could aid President Viktor Yanukovych – UPI.com – 10/25/2012.
The Dubious Businees of Ukraine President Yanukovych and His Clan – SPIEGEL ONLINE – 5/16/2012.
Corruption in Ukraine – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ukraine protests: Fight breaks out between politicians in parliament – YouTube
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