Comments 09:38 28/01/2014

‘Very irresponsible’ to hold early elections in Ukraine

As violence between radical opposition and police continues in the Ukrainian capital, calling early elections will only make things worse, Martin Sieff, a global policy expert, told RT.

“The early elections will make things worse. It’s a very bad solution, very irresponsible,” Sieff told RT.

Daniel McAdams, executive director at Ron Paul Institute for peace and prosperity, shares this point of view, saying that elections can’t be held with the situation as it is in Ukraine now.

“I’ve been an election monitor in early ’90s in many contentious areas. You simply cannot hold elections in an environment of violence like this. It’s virtually impossible to do,” McAdams told RT.

“How is there any democratic legitimacy to having a mob on the streets demanding new elections?” he added.

The experts' opinion echoes that of the Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov, who made a statement at the Davos forum, claiming it is ‘unconstitutional’ to hold an early election. However, he claimed that the government is ready to resign if the parliament votes for this.

At the same time the Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich conducted a new round of talks with opposition leaders on January 23. If the protesters agreed to leave the area in central Kiev the authorities were ready to stop the use of force, release all those detained during mass riots on Grushevskogo Street, and consider reduced penalties for protesters who have already been arrested. The opposition leaders initiated a public vote at Independence Square and the majority of the protesters refused to accept the government's conditions.

Commenting on the current situation in Kiev, Martin Sieff says that there are no peaceful protesters any more, whereas rioters are stimulated by the Western support.

“We do not see peaceful protesters in Ukraine. We see highly organized violent protesters being encouraged by very irresponsible actions primarily of many European Union nations. It’s extremely unprecedented and extremely dangerous,” he said.

Daniel McAdams agrees, saying that “the protesters have become more radicalized because they have been encouraged all alone by EU and American politicians, who have been on the ground in the middle of the protests encouraging them.”

“There are certainly plenty of blames that go to the EU and American politicians like the US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, who was handing out cookies at the square. And we all know her husband, the great neo-con Robert Kagan, who's in favor of revolutions all over the world, the former advisor to John McCain. So these people know all about the revolutions and favor them, and they have to share some of the blame for the bloodshed,” he told RT.

Talking about the anti-protest law enacted by the Ukrainian government on January 16, which is believed to be a reason for the renewed unrest, Martin Sieff says that “the constraints under the new Ukrainian law are virtually identical to the laws of the US, and many European countries have harsher laws.”

“Ukraine has not abandoned its democracy with its new laws, it is the violence in the streets that is threatening democracy in Ukraine. Any stable democracy is not decided on the streets, it is decided by due protest,” Sieff said.

McAdams gives examples of the analogous anti-protest law operating in the United States, in particular, in Washington, DC.

“And it’s all blamed on this new anti-protest law, which is virtually identical to any law you would see in the US. In Washington, DC, you are not allowed to wear a mask during protests, you are not allowed to have a tent, which was during the Occupy Wall Street violently turned down. You are not allowed have foreign funding of your political organization in the US, it’s illegal,” McAdams said.

He also argues that the high level of violence that can be seen in Kiev during the week is to be blamed on the rioters.

“Certainly the protesters are to blame [for violence]. The police are using violence – that’s what the police do everywhere when they have to break up protests like this,” McAdams told RT.

“There is an interesting symbiosis between people like Klitschko, who is seen in the US as a great opposition leader, and his radical provocateurs in the street, who are setting policemen on fire, throwing grenades at policemen, throwing rocks at them. Where in the world would this be tolerated?” he added.
 



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:13
EU could extend monitoring mission in Armenia through 2027
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, has proposed a two-year extension of the...
16:45
Putin ready for talks with Trump, Kremlin says
The Kremlin said Friday that President Vladimir Putin was open to talks with Donald Trump, after the incoming US president said a meeting...
16:34
Armenian FM, EU envoy discuss security situation in South Caucasus
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Friday had a meeting with the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in...
16:05
Yeghishe Charents' book sent into space on museum anniversary
The 60th anniversary of the founding and the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Yeghishe Charents House-Museum in Yerevan have been...
15:36
Pashinyan 'unaware' of developments in Armenia, ex-advisor says
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday claimed that the number of air passengers arriving in Armenia increased by 20% between January 1...
15:02
ECHR told Baku to provide information on Armenian prisoners by late January
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered Azerbaijan to provide information on Armenian prisoners held illegally in Baku by the end...
14:35
Temperatures set to rise in Armenia
Dry weather is expected in Armenia's regions on Friday and over the next few days. Yerevan will also remain free of precipitation...
14:03
Politician: Impossible to achieve peace through 'political begging'
Opposition politician Eduard Sharmazanov claims former Armenian leaders managed to secure favorable terms in negotiations with Azerbaijan over...
13:16
Pashinyan's leadership: a catalyst for Armenia's decline
Op-ed by Vartan Oskanian, former Armenian foreign minister As 2025 unfolds, Armenia finds itself at a critical crossroads,...
13:05
WTA Hobart: Avanesyan loses semifinal to Kessler
American McCartney Kessler moved into the final of the WTA Hobart International by edging out Armenian Elina Avanesyan, the No 6 seed, 4-6, 6-3,...
12:30
Armenian State Symphony Orchestra to perform at Dubai Opera
The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra will present the Symphonic Rock concert series in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from January 17 to 19,...
12:14
Armenian archbishop voices support for Artsakh leaders facing sham trials in Baku
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan has expressed support for Artsakh’s military and political leaders, as well as other Armenian prisoners...
11:35
Death toll in Los Angeles wildfires rises to 10
At least 10 people are believed to be dead as wildfires continue to scorch many cities in the Los Angeles County area, Euronews reported....
11:24
Fog blankets parts of Armenia
The Rescue Service has warned drivers of a road closure in Armenia. In particular, the road connecting the Amberd high mountain...
11:11
Armenia offers condolences amid devastating wildfires in California
The Armenian Foreign Ministry has extended condolences to those affected by the devastating wildfires in California. "Saddened by...
17:19
Pashinyan could recall CSTO after Aliyev's remarks, top Russian official says
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev claims that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan could recall the...
16:46
Over 137,000 people evacuated amid Los Angeles wildfires
At least five wildfires are raging in Los Angeles - the two largest cover more than 27,000 acres and are 0% contained, BBC News reports....
16:30
Fog expected to hit some parts of Armenia
Dry weather is expected in Armenia's regions on Thursday and over the next few days. No precipitation is forecast for the capital...
16:05
Kremlin doubts Armenia can be member of both EU and EAEU
Armenia can hardly be a member of both the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a...
15:36
MP calls for int'l action to prevent Azeri aggression against Armenia
Opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan has warned that Azerbaijani is planning fresh aggression against Armenia, calling on international actors...
15:00
Russia to continue building relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kremlin says
Moscow is committed to peace, stability, and security in the Caucasus and will continue to strengthen relations with both Baku and Yerevan,...
14:38
Expert: Armenian leadership lacks 'plan B' for possible war
Political analyst Suren Sargsyan has called out the Armenian authorities for failure to handle security challenges facing the country....
14:06
Catholicos Aram I closely following California wildfire crisis
In recent hours, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia has reached out multiple times to the Prelate of the Western...
13:36
US refrains from commenting on strategic partnership with Armenia for now
The United States “has nothing to comment on or announce at this point” regarding the potential signing of a strategic partnership...
13:08
Armenian government backs EU accession bid
The Armenian government has expressed support for a legislative initiative to launch a process for the country’s accession to the European...
12:36
Baku TV again falsely presents ancient Armenian church as Azerbaijani heritage
A pro-government TV channel in Baku has once again falsely presented the 7th-century Armenian monastery of Harichavank as part of...
12:00
Lucas Zelarayán returns to Belgrano
Belgrano de Córdoba has officially announced the return of Lucas Zelarayán after weeks of uncertainty, during which the club...
11:45
Fog hits Armenian town
The Rescue Service has warned drivers of a road closure in Armenia as of Thursday morning. In particular, the road connecting the...
11:33
Hobart International: Elina Avanesyan through to semifinals
Armenian Elina Avanesyan, the No 6 seed, advanced to the last four of the Hobart International after American Amanda Anisimova, the No 3 seed,...
11:22
Armenian school destroyed in California wildfires
As the windstorm wreaking havoc across Los Angeles County continues to rage, its devastating impact has left thousands homeless, evacuated,...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}