Euromaidan
Sign in to saveEuromaidan (; , , ), or the Maidan Uprising, was a wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine, which began on 21 November 2013 with large protests in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv. The protests were sparked by President Viktor Yanukovych's sudden decision not to sign the European Union–Ukraine Association Agreement, instead choosing closer ties to Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union. Ukraine's parliament had overwhelmingly approved of finalising the Agreement with the EU, but Russia had put pressure on Ukraine to reject it. The scope of the protests widened, wit
AI overview
Euromaidan was a wave of demonstrations in Ukraine that began in November 2013 after President Viktor Yanukovych decided not to sign an agreement with the European Union and instead pursue closer ties to Russia, despite Parliament's approval of the EU deal. The protests mattered because they reflected a fundamental divide in Ukrainian society over whether the country should orient itself toward Europe or Russia, with major political consequences that followed.
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Key facts
- Civil conflict.title
- Euromaidan
- Civil conflict.image
- Euromaidan collage.jpg
- Civil conflict.caption
- Clockwise from top left: a large European flag is waved across Maidan on 27 November 2013; opposition activist and popular singer Ruslana addresses the crowds on Maidan on 29 November 2013; Euromaidan on European Square on 1 December; plinth of the toppled Lenin statue; crowds direct hose at militsiya; tree decorated with flags and posters.
- Civil conflict.date
- – 22 February 2014 ()
- Civil conflict.place
- Ukraine, primarily Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv
- Civil conflict.goals
- Signing of the EU Association Agreement and Free Trade Agreement Impeachment of President Viktor Yanukovych Snap elections Re-adoption of the 2004 Constitution of Ukraine amendments International sanctions against Yanukovych and Azarov government members Rejection of Eurasian Customs Union membership
- Civil conflict.methods
- Demonstrations, civil disobedience, civil resistance, hacktivism, occupation of administrative buildings
- Civil conflict.side1
- Anti-government protesters Maidan People's Union: AutoMaidan Vidsich Batkivshchyna Svoboda UDAR Right Sector UNA–UNSO Other groups: Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Democratic Alliance United Left and Peasants Spilna Sprava Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists Misanthropic Division Unaffiliated protesters: Defected police officers Afghan War veterans University students
Article
46 sectionsContents
- Overview
- Background
- Name history
- Initial causes
- Demands
- Timeline of the events
- Protests in Kyiv
- 1 December 2013 protests
- 11 December 2013 assault on Maidan
- Hrushevsky Street protests
- February 2014: Revolution
- Protests across Ukraine
- Occupation of administrative buildings
- Protests outside Ukraine
- Antimaidan and pro-government rallies
- Euromaidan groups
- Automaidan
- Self-defence groups
- Casualties
- Press and medics injured by police attacks
- Analysis
- Public opinion about Euromaidan
- Support for Euromaidan in Ukraine
- Public opinion about EU integration
- Public opinion about joining the EU
- Comparison with the Orange Revolution
- Escalation to violence
- Legacy
- Political impact
- Economic impact
- Social impact
- Cultural impact
- Music of Maidan
- Films on Maidan
- Visual arts at Maidan
- Theatre
- Sport
- Commemoration
- Slogans and symbols
- Reactions
- Legal hearings and investigation
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Euromaidan (; , , ), or the Maidan Uprising, was a wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine, which began on 21 November 2013 with large protests in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv. The protests were sparked by President Viktor Yanukovych's sudden decision not to sign the European Union–Ukraine Association Agreement, instead choosing closer ties to Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union. Ukraine's parliament had overwhelmingly approved of finalising the Agreement with the EU, but Russia had put pressure on Ukraine to reject it. The scope of the protests widened, with calls for the resignation of Yanukovych and the Azarov government. Protesters opposed what they saw as widespread government corruption, abuse of power, human rights violations, and the influence of oligarchs. Transparency International named Yanukovych as the top example of corruption in the world. The violent dispersal of protesters on 30 November caused further anger. Euromaidan was the largest democratic mass movement in Europe since 1989 and led to the 2014 Revolution of Dignity.
During the uprising, Independence Square (Maidan) in Kyiv was a huge protest camp occupied by thousands of protesters and protected by makeshift barricades. It had kitchens, first aid posts and broadcasting facilities, as well as stages for speeches, lectures, debates and performances. It was guarded by 'Maidan Self-Defense' units made up of volunteers in improvised uniform and helmets, carrying shields and armed with sticks, stones and petrol bombs. Protests were also held in many other parts of Ukraine. In Kyiv, there were clashes with police on 1 December; and police assaulted the camp on 11 December. Protests increased from mid-January, in response to the government introducing draconian anti-protest laws. There were deadly clashes on Hrushevsky Street on 19–22 January. Protesters then occupied government buildings in many regions of Ukraine. The uprising climaxed on 18–20 February, when fierce fighting in Kyiv between Maidan activists and police resulted in the deaths of almost 100 protesters and 13 police.