Maydan Ukraine

"Ukraine’s Road to Freedom"

MAIDAN


Events in Ukraine shown in documentary films, paintings, photography, music, protest posters,

produced by Ukrainian artists that were active participants in The real Maydan events.

Initiator and producer of this Audio-Visual project: Sergey (Foma) Fomenko


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrJIIeADD45RsffK2yYgmSw


documentary films

paintings


https://www.facebook.com/msvaisberg/media_set?set=a.747255221974013.100000176313156&type=3


photography

Aleksandr Glyadyelov


photography

http://maximdondyuk.com/ MAXIM DONDYUK

”Ukraine’s Road to Freedom"

photography https://www.facebook.com/vika.yasinskaya/media_set?set=a.533015420145817.1073741835.100003120904205&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/vika.yasinskaya/media_set?set=a.516296195151073.1073741834.100003120904205&type=3

Vika Yasyns'ka

”Ukraine’s Road to Freedom"

music


protest posters


protest posters

"Ukraine’s Road to Freedom" Events of 2013 – 2014, known as “Maydan”,

The “Revolution for Dignity”, Changed Ukrainian Society and also the entire world.

The peaceful gathering of activists, journalists, students, artists and concerned citizens,

Under the Stella / Monument to Ukrainian Independence, That is permitted by Law,

To protest the sudden decision of the President to avoid signing the Association Agreement for European Integration,

and to opt for the Customs Union promoted by Russia.

This event grew into major National protests against corruption, usurpation of power and disregard for human rights in Ukraine.


Millions of Ukrainians took to the streets of Kyiv and other major Cities of Ukraine. For two and a half months, the President and the Country's Leadership totally ignored the appeals and demands for dialogue from opposition politicians and the citizens who came to the many city Maydans (squares). Despite the peaceful nature of the protests, the full support of the people of Ukraine, the Internationa l Community and the Ukrainian Diaspora around the world, the government launched a full scale war against its citizens, using Riot Police “Berkut”, Corrupt Courts and Militia (Police). The results of this war were severe beatings, serious injuries and trumped up arrests of students, journalists and other caring individuals without concern for age, or sex, even though there was no danger from the unarmed Maidan Activists, during the crackdown of peaceful protesters.


Another important factor that escalated the conflict was an unsuccessful attempt to clear the Maydan using "Berkut" Riot Troops, Internal Troops and Militia (police) on the night of December 11. Repeated attempts to disperse the protestors during brutally severe weather conditions, as protesters stood outside for two and a half months, day and night, in -20C freezing cold, during snow , wind and rain, did not produce the desired result for the Government. Political and diplomatic efforts to pressure the authorities did not get them to budge, and repressions continued. On the 19th of January, the great Christian Holiday of Epiphany, during a regular Popular Assembly, despite calls by politicians to remain calm and wait, the protesters patience ended.

"Ukraine’s Road to Freedom" The people stormed the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers The detachments of Berkut Riot Troops, Internal Troops, and Militia that were standing outside Hrushevskoho Street, threw stun grenades, shot rubber bullets and hunting ammunition, used special ammunition to disable car engines, began to beat people with batons, and despite the freezing cold, water cannon was used to wet down the demonstrators. The people returned fire with Molotov cocktails and paving stones. “Berkut” Busses and other heavy machinery were burnt and became the base for the Barricades on Hrushevskoho Street.


As a result of several days of opposition between the forces, the first heroes of the “Heavenly Hundred”, namely Sergei Nihoyan, Michael Zhyznyevskyy and Roman Senik were killed. In a forest near Kyiv, the body of Maidan Activist Yuri Verbitsky was found. He was kidnapped from the hospital by unknown persons, tortured and killed. Many people have disappeared, and hundreds were seriously injured. Thus started the kidnapping of Maidan Activists, some of whom were later found dead.


Despite all this, the Maidan Activists did not surrender and their ranks were reinforced by new self-organized groups of patriots from every part of Ukraine. Many of them immediately went into action and died from the bullets of snipers and military stun granades during the three day long standoff.

"Ukraine’s Road to Freedom" During the last attempt to storm the Maidan, "Berkut" burned down the Trade Unions Building, which housed the headquarters of the National Resistance. The fire killed approximately 50 people, including seriously wounded Activists who could not escape the premises. The crowning tragic points of these events were the deaths of hundreds of unarmed people by snipers bullets on the 18th, 19th and 20th of February, thousands of seriously wounded, hundreds of unidentified corpses, and the cowardly escape of President Yanukovych and "Berkut" from the battlefield.

"Ukraine’s Road to Freedom" The Maidan Activists named the victims of these batt les, the “Heavenly Hundred”. Active participants of these events during these frightening and trying t imes were Ukra in ian ar t is ts , m u s i c i a n s , f i l m m a k e r s a n d cinema operators, writers and poets, photographers and journalists. It is their individual visions, d o c u m e n t a r y evidence and unique view we present in this project we simply c a l l : M A I D A N – Ukraine’s Road to Freedom.



WHAT IS “MAIDAN”?

WHAT IS “MAIDAN”? The events that took place in Ukraine are a historical, spiritual, civil and political phenomenon of our time. They are an example of human dignity, personal responsibility, mutual respect and the indestructibility of the spirit of the Multinational Ukrainian people. It’s an example of the evolution of a reactionary country in the post USSR camp and Ukraine will remain as such for a long time. For 23 years Independent Ukraine was ruled by former Communist Officials which were a powerful deterrent to the normal development of the country. The TRUZUB (Trident), Blue and Yellow Flag, National Anthem, Celebrating Independence Day, laying flowers at the grave of Taras Shevchenko, all these were only “Window Dressing” to cover corruption, cynicism, multi vectored political games, systematic budget thefts, the bleeding dry of Basic Institutions of State, and the endless enrichment of Officials of all ranks in government and their closed circle of friends.

WHAT IS “MAIDAN”? The result of this polit ical system was a general impoverishment of the population, the constant decline of the economy, culture and international image of the country, and despair in the general mood of the majority of citizens of Ukraine. A new generation of young people, who were born in independent Ukraine, and a generation of youth which reached adulthood at the beginning of the 90s, formed the basis of the country's middle class. These erudite, energetic and successful people were not satisfied with a system that did not work for the people of their country. It was these citizens of Ukraine that didn’t accept, and most did not even know, such a thing as "Soviet slavery". They rebelled against it in 2004, during the Orange Revolution, and again, today, during the Euro Maidan event, outdoors - in 2014. Ukrainian Maidan is - Civil Society against Slavery.

1. Painting, Matvey Weisberg, artist. A series of works written during the events of the square. Alexander Ermolenko, Olexa Man (Barbican Art Association). 2. The documentary film "Babylon 13" (creative team that shot short documentaries of Maidan Events, in real time) (add directors, operators and administrative group). 3. Photography - Alexander Glyadyelov, Sergey Mykhalchuk, Alexander Druganov, Maxim Dondyuk, Vika Yasyns'ka (list is being formed) 4. Music - permanent members of all musical events on MAIDAN, Kozak Choir, Valery Hladunets, Dakh Daughters, Mandry (list is being formed) 5. Art of Protest Posters - Oleksiy Say, Alexander Ermolenko (list is being formed).

Participants of the Project: “MAIDAN - Ukraine’s Road to Freedom"

DESIGN CONCEPT of EVENTS Duration 2-3 days

Day One: Assembl ing the exhib i t ion of pa int ings , photographs and posters in the premises, set up screen, projector, and sufficient number of seats for the viewers of the documentary film, set up of sound equipment and performance stage (the stage can be either in the same room with the exhibition and cinema, and in some cases separately, for example, if the event takes place in New York at the Ukrainian Institute, the music concert can be in Central Park which is nearby.

DESIGN CONCEPT of EVENTS Duration 2-3 days

Day Two: 12:00 Noon, Press Conference of the project to the Media and TV, 13:00 Opening of the Exhibition, 15:00 Start showcasing film series "Babylon 13" with a foreword by Authors, 19:00 Early music concert project "Ukraine. Road to Freedom” lasting 2-3 hours. 10:00 After party, buffet, informal communication, dj plays current Ukrainian music.

Day Three: Dismantling of the Exhibition – and resting

The work on the formation of the Organizing Committee of the project , a list of permanent members (including technical staff) and a list of necessary equipment , full technical rider needed to implement the project presentations, a list of contact persons, residents and project partners to assist in the organization of flights and journeys in the territory of which we will be performing, legal aid for processing the necessary documents and visas for participants as well as artifacts, artwork, albums, DVD and CD, other related products and other necessary work, is in the process of being organized.

PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE. (Production Group)

OBJECTIVE AND TARGET AUDIENCE of the PROJECT

Convey to the International Community, the media, the intellectual, political and business environment of each country that supported the Ukrainian people in difficult times and to Ukraine and the Diaspora Communities around the world which have made a huge contribution to the Victory of Democracy, and provided substantial assistance to Ukraine and its MAIDANS, documentary and artistic evidence and artifacts from Ukrainian artists, musicians, filmmakers and cinema operators, photographers and artists of protest posters that are directly involved in all the events of the first days of the Maidan up to the present, viewers and listeners around the world who come to the presentation.

Viewers of "MAIDAN - UKRAINE’S WAY TO FREEDOM"

The viewers will be able to personally witness, feel and form their own understanding of the events that took place on the Maidan in Kiev and across the country. Understand and be convinced that Ukrainians are an open, enlightened, tolerant, kind and strong nation that seek civilizational change and want to live peacefully. They are willing and able to learn and change themselves and the surrounding world. Their dream is to be curious and open to the world. They want true Democracy and the Rule of Law in their land. They dream for a normal future for their children. They are ready for self sacrafice and willing to fight for their dreams. And they know how to win.

Viewers of "MAIDAN - UKRAINE’S WAY TO FREEDOM"

The project also intends to dispell the myths, lies and horrors about Maidan, Ukraine, and Ukrainians, which were ma l ic ious ly spread by the many ideologues and agents of Kremlin’s “Evil Empire”. Indeed, on the borders of this “Empire” appears a new reality – a land of free people that don’t want to live in Darkness and Doom.

FINANCE AND BUDGET FUND

To provide financial assistance to the project, participants in the Project Fund may be individuals (patrons), communities, private financial, industrial, and investment institutions, both in Ukraine and abroad. To create an effective way to operate the Fund, there will be a working group, whose aim will be to control, and give professional advice, for the most productive and transparent process for funding the MAIDAN project (in process of being formed).

Art & Photos

Maydan Ukraine