Igor Markov's arrest: bear up, Odessa!

On October 22 during the interrogation Igor Markov, the leader of Rodina Party whom not so long ago deprived of the deputy mandate for disagreement with the European integration policy of the Party of Regions was detained in the building of the regional Department of Internal Affairs. About 1000 inhabitants of Odessa gathered near the Department of Internal Affairs to prevent Markov's export to Kiev. Skirmishes with militia began as a result of which some tens people suffered. In the middle of the night the protesting were pushed aside by forces of the Nikolaev and Kherson OMON from the building of the Department of Internal Affairs and Igor Markov after all was sent to Kiev.

It is characteristic that Markov's arrest happened in only some days after his statements for intention to create the new political force of the Eurasian orientation and as that he will participate in presidential election of 2015.

Repressions weren't limited only with Igor Markov's detention. In some hours after that there was inaccessible the site of Rodina party (http://rodina.od.ua) and then there were messages that in the building of the ATV Odessa TV channel created by Markov, there was a militia and according to some data its disconnection from air prepares. Broadcasting of the channel interrupted on the Internet.

This event is a peculiar apogee of activity of the Party of Regions on cleaning of the Southeast of Ukraine from possible political competitors on the pro-Russian electoral field. But in this case the Ukrainian power passed that line when the discontent with it from the population turns into unanimous and full-fledged hatred.

Inhabitants of the Southeast of Ukraine understood for a long time that their interests were cruelly betrayed by the European integration “forcing” of the Party of Regions which came to the power only thanks to the pro-Russian slogans. But now this power applies barefaced repressions to the person who remained true to the belief and belief of inhabitants of all Southeast of Ukraine, and now is pursued for this belief.

The dull, provocative actions adjoining on terror, the Ukrainian power headed by president Victor Yanukovych finally turned into a certain aggressive, “Bonapart-gangster” group for the former voters. And this group unscrupulously, for the sake of the personal interests not only betrays the interests and belief of the supporters, which swore to defend on elections, but also is ready to repress openly for these belief if they somehow interfere with their personal interests.

The situation which has developed in connection with arrest of the leader of Rodina Party was commented by Rostislav Ishchenko, the political scientist, the president of the Center of the system analysis and forecasting.

- What motives of the Ukrainian authorities served as the reason of arrest of Igor Markov?

I think that it is caused by impassable nonsense of the Ukrainian power.

If to analyze a situation correctly, it is obvious that Markov, being still even the People's Deputy, not especially proved himself as the active politician, not often made any statements. He kept loyalty to a party and president course. It is clear that he, likely, would criticize the intentions to sign the Agreement on association, didn't vote for any bills. But his actions weren't critical for the Party of Regions, and for the rest he remained loyal – for some years he even stopped vigorous activity of Rodina party in the south of Ukraine.

But as a result of it in the beginning he was deprived of the mandate, and then on absolutely far-fetched charge detained in general. It is obvious that presentation of charge of hooliganism which took place in 2007 is really the far-fetched charge. Especially taking into account that the fight was obviously political, both Markov and his supporters acted on the party then oppositional Yanukovych.

Thus, it is demonstrative attempt to suppress any dissent. But as a result the Party of Regions and the president already achieved the opposite. Because if militia regional departments stormed to nobody known settlements as Vradiyevka before, now they hardly defended the Odessa regional Department of Internal Affairs. Markov's supporters were as a result mobilized, and as a result of action of the authorities simply pushed out Markov in active policy. And, in spite of the fact that Markov isn't an outstanding strategists and it is impossible to call him as the outstanding speaker, he becomes now the recognized leader of the pro-Russian forces of the Southeast of Ukraine, also injured for idea.

Since the time of Yushchenko Markov was accused that he almost was the bandit, the leader of criminal group. But it appeared that to the person whom 10 years in a row called the bandit, couldn't bring any other accusation, except political hooliganism at the level of the State Office of Public Prosecutor. And it shows that all charges which showed Markov before at the level of hearing are simply inventions. Especially taking into account that, for example, practically all noticeable activists of All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda”, any more without speaking about deputies, were repeatedly involved in similar political hooliganism, but nobody touches them.

Almost Yanukovych made mobilization of active opponents of the course already on the Russian flank. And Yanukovych now diligently creates him the leader in the person of Markov. It doesn't mean that he will be a leader up to the end, but now the request for the leader is satisfied with Yanukovych. Victor Fedorovich actively provokes revolution against himself. It is obvious that now he is hated by all, including even people from relatives to his circle of the Party of Regions. Because people who will lose billions or hundreds millions dollars at once after signing Agreement about association by Yanukovych, can't love Victor Fedorovich.

Nobody will protect him - he constantly radicalizes society and constantly provokes the attacks of this sort to militia. But it is clear that if people aren't afraid to leave and fight with militia any more, after several such storms they will go and burn Mezhigorye. Also it isn't known, whether Yanukovych will manage to escape from there.

- Can Markov's prosecution be connected with that he intends to create the Eurasian political force in the Southeast of Ukraine and to participate in presidential election in 2015 year?

The power can have different motives, but all of them are absolutely silly because if didn't touch Markov, even after mandate deprivation the people would gradually forget about him. Probably, he would enjoy certain popularity in Odessa. But he wouldn't be the politician of national scale by this moment. And he had no sufficient resources to create powerful political force and, especially, to untwist it to elections of 2015 at which the election campaign will begin already soon. Those voices which potentially Markov could take at Yanukovych, are already taken – these people wouldn't vote for him any more. And after that case with Markov he can lose million voices more.

- Could the idea of creation of such party seem dangerous to Yanukovych?

The idea is good, of course, but party will go on elections only in 2016, and the next elections are presidential. But in this regard Markov also didn't pose threat to Yanukovych. Probably, Yanukovych still assumes that the southeast electorate will vote for him, but I think that it shouldn't be under a delusion because it is simply dangerous for him to appear in the Southeast of Ukraine without security. Therefore the party creation by Markov didn't create any problems as now any party, by whatever charismatic leader it was, simply doesn't manage to be untwisted to elections of 2016. To manage to make it, it should be created in 2011. And any candidate won't manage to be untwisted to presidential election of 2015.

Besides there are technical ways of blocking of projects of this sort.

The money, mass media and many other things are necessary for that. Respectively, blocking of his release on the national arena, creation of problems in business, continuous visits of tax quietly would bury this project. Thus there would be various economic disputes round Markov which wouldn't leave out of limits of the Odessa region.

But there is an impression that the power settled all control methods over a situation, except direct terror. Because occurring now with Markov is impossible to call differently as terror. And it is impossible to be kept at the power long by such methods – month, half a year, and then “will simply be dig”.

- What will Markov's arrest cause and how the events will develop further? Would be the mass protests?

Already the first protest would be enough for the clever authorities to change the nature of the actions. Because if you nearly didn't taken the regional Department of Internal Affairs by storm, it is the last call.

It is quite possible that Markov's supporters come to any actions in Odessa, can arrive to Kiev and arrange any actions here. But, from my point of view, the activity of this sort can be justified in case they are really ready to hold actions termless, to expose rather large number of people, not to be afraid of collisions with militia and initiation of criminal cases. And if they are able constantly to increase the pressure, then it is expedient. Because if it will be the pickets and meeting on 500 or even 2000 people, that, will be as with Tymoshenko, the meetings in support of which went on descending, and then it ceased to be engaged at all. It is not a problem to jail several activists.

- Will this protest activity occur only in the Odessa region or can extend on all Southeast?

Potentially it can because the people are ready. But in order that this distribution happened it is necessary that among people who will be engaged in it, were technically and tactically competent people who will be able to build the work with the masses and to overcome quite obvious pressure and resistance of the political authorities. And which will build this work for long term.

This activity won't extend widely in itself – it is necessary to be engaged and put organizational and other efforts.

The Ukrainian journalist and blogger Stepan Bulbenko considers Igor Markov's arrest as the first signs of the repressions which have begun in Ukraine. From 1991 Ukraine lost so many people that imaginations of “singers of the Holodomor” seem simply children's.

In fact, the journalist speaks, the criminal and gangster and oligarchic mode was created in Ukraine which gave it on worry to the international corporations.

The former convict directs Ukraine. In general I was surprised how the heads and politicians of other states can shake hands with him... The small homeland of Yanukovych, Donetchina, is destroyed and its show-window is Donets Basin arena stadium and couple of smart policlinics.
Other population is compelled to survive, getting a piece of bread by coal getting in “kopanka”, it is called the spontaneous coal development. In the same time the Ukrainian oligarchs grew fastidious, without knowing how to spend the stolen money.
Already now the national interests of Ukraine are betrayed. Its people are deprived of civil rights. Poverty is everywhere. After signing of the agreement of association with EU the full end waits the industry, science, education and medicine, namely what still remained from them.

Links with the industry of Russia and other brotherly countries are broken.

And actions of the Ukrainian so-called “law enforcement bodies” in Odessa on October 22 are more similar to violence of Hitlerite attack planes. However, it doesn't surprise me, considering the article under which Yanukovych was condemned as it is the same robbery.

He has nothing more to keep other exit the mode and himself as to begin terror against dissidents. I want to congratulate the citizens of Ukraine: we reached real “democracy”!

Markov is the only deputy of the Verkhovna Rada from the “Party of Regions” which has betrayed those who voted for it, who openly refused to vote for “European integration”. He is illegally arrested for that hurt a lip to the nationalist, rushed into him in 2007. It became finally clear that Yanukovych's mode is on the party of successors of OUN-UPA which openly hold the sabbaths in mother of the cities of Russians Kiev.

How Odessa will lead, depends not only Igor Markov's destiny,the destiny of all who thinks and talks in the Russian depends on it. By Markov’s arrest Yanukovych began the process which will lead him to the disgraceful end.