Ukrainian Choice

All-Ukrainian Social Movement "Ukrainian Choice" (Russian: Всеукраинское общественное движение «Украинский выбор», Ukrainian: Всеукраїнський громадський рух «Український вибір») is a pro-Russian and explicitly Anti-Ukrainian and anti-Semitic[1][2] NGO in Ukraine.[3][4] It was initiated by and is led by the business tycoon Viktor Medvedchuk.

Ukrainian Choice logo

Ideology

The organization was founded in April 2012 and is noticed to oppose European Union and NATO membership of Ukraine and would prefer instead Ukraine's membership in Eurasian Economic Union. The group also wants "decentralization of power followed by the transition to a federal structure, while maintaining the territorial integrity and unity of Ukraine".[5]

Ukrainian Choice also emphasizes Slavic Orthodox values: in July, 2013, it organized a conference on the topic "Orthodox-Slavic values – the basics of the civilizational choice of Ukraine", where Vladimir Putin held a speech.[6] (Putin is the godfather of Medvedchuk's 2004 born daughter Darina).[7]

Activities

According to The New York Times the group aimed at stopping former president Viktor Yanukovych from signing Ukraine's Association Agreement with the European Union.[6] In a leaked June 2013 Russian-ordered consultation document, whose contents have been corroborated by a former security source in Ukraine, the Russian government wanted Ukrainian Choice to influence public opinion.[5] At the time Medvedchuk and the organization had marginal popular support in Ukraine.[8]

In the fall of 2013, Ukrainian Choice ran an aggressive anti-gay ad campaign warning against "decayed values" in the Western world.[6] Some of the ads claimed that association with the European Union would mean the legalization of same-sex marriage.[3] At the time, Medvedchuk described the European Union as the "modern heir to the Third Reich."[6]

During annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in March 2014, the organization organized blockage of Ukrainian military logistics.[9]

Criticism

Ex-president of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk has stated that "The Ukrainian Choice is not a Ukrainian choice, but a choice of Russia in Ukraine".[10]

Dmitry Alekseev, a Russian political technologist and director general of Russia's National Political Agency, said in December 2013 that Russia was trying to "forge" pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine, so it was funding Viktor Medvedchuk's Ukrainian Choice project, as previously funded by Natalia Vitrenko's PSPU.[11]

On February 26, 2014, deputies of the Zakarpattia Regional Council banned the activities of Viktor Medvedchuk's "Ukrainian Choice" in the region.[12]

"Ukrainian Choice" is also accused of anti-Semitism for articles on the organization's website, which accuses Jews of allegedly owning all power in Ukraine.[13][14]

References
  1. Anti-Semitic choice of Viktor Medvedchuk. Argumentua. 13 December 2013
  2. Muzychenko, Ya. Anti-Maidan and "Anti-Hebrews". Ukrayina Moloda. 7 February 2014
  3. Ukraine's Choice: East Or West?, Radio Free Europe (April 17, 2016)
  4. Ukrainian Choice leader Medvedchuk says he doesn't represent interests of DPR, LPR, but negotiates with them, Kyiv Post (Jun. 25, 2014)
  5. Failing Ukraine state plays in to Russia's hands, Reuters (May 18, 2014)
  6. Close Friend of Russian Leader Takes Role as a Negotiator for Ukraine, The New York Times (FEB. 11, 2015)
  7. Медведчук і Марченко помінялися місцями. Tablo ID (in Ukrainian). 2007-11-11. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  8. Kremlin-imposed “Ukrainian choice”, The Ukrainian Week (3 July 2012)
    Playing opposition, Den (15 August 2013)
    Russia's Plan For Ukraine: Purported Leaked Strategy Document Raises Alarm, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (20 August 2013)
  9. Pro-Russian group of people blocked the Odessa highway in Mykolaiv impeding transportation of Ukrainian military transport. News PN. 2 March 2014
  10. «Український вибір» Медведчука — це вибір Росії в Україні" // «Країна», 24.07.2012. (in Ukrainian)
  11. "Російський політтехнолог розповів, хто фінансує "Український вибір" Медведчука". www.unian.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  12. "На Закарпатті заборонили «Український вибір» Медведчука". zik.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  13. "Антисемитский выбор Виктора Медведчука". АРГУМЕНТ. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  14. "Антимайдан і «антиєвреї»". Club-tourist. Retrieved 2020-06-11.

Official website of Ukrainian Choice (in Russian)

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