November 23
Three years ago this week, a nation rose up and demanded a better life.
Three years ago this week, a middle class revolution commenced.
Three years ago this week, the Euro-Maidan was born.
And it’s worth remembering the Euro part.
Because the popular uprising that eventually overthrew the corrupt and autocratic regime of Ukraine’s pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych was driven by a desire to be part of Europe.
It was an uprising in support of European values.
And it is also worth remembering that the more than 100 protesters who were killed during the Euro-Maidan, died for the values of Europe.
They became the first people in history to die for the idea of the European Union.
And it’s worth remembering that the power and magnetic pull of this European idea was deeply and profoundly threatening to Vladimir Putin’s autocratic and kleptocratic regime.
So threatening, it appears, that the Kremlin decided that it needed to be destroyed – first in Ukraine and then in Europe itself.
In the wake of the Euro-Maidan, Moscow launched one type of hybrid war aimed at paralyzing and destabilizing Ukraine – sending little green men to annex Crimea and to wreak havoc in the Donbas.
And it launched another kind of hybrid war in Europe – weaponizing information and the democratic process to bring xenophobes and Euroskeptics to the brink of power.
Three years ago European values were on the march in Ukraine.
Today, they’re in retreat – in Europe.
The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL.
Copyright 2016, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see http://www.rferl.org/a/daily-vertial-whitmore-euromaidan-anniversary-three-years/28134669.html).