View source for Ukraine without Kuchma

{{Short description|2000–2001 protests in Ukraine}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| partof = 
| image = [[File:Ukraine Without Kuchma 6 February.jpg|250px]]
| caption = Mass protest in Khreschatyk, 6 February 2001
| date = 15 December 2000 – 9 March 2001
| place = City of [[Kyiv]]<br/>Shevchenko Memorial Park
| causes = [[Cassette Scandal]] 
*Investigation of [[Georgiy Gongadze]] disappearance
*Investigation of [[Viacheslav Chornovil]] death
| goals = Investigation of [[Georgiy Gongadze]] disappearance
*Dismissal of law enforcement officials
*Dismissal of the [[Prosecutor General of Ukraine|General Prosecutor of Ukraine]] Mykhailo Potebenko
*Resignation of [[President of Ukraine|President]] [[Leonid Kuchma]]
| result = Unrest extinguished
*Numerous arrests
*Case of the March 9
*2002 [[Myroslava Gongadze#European Court of Human Rights|Myroslava Gongadze v. Ukraine]]
| side1 = {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Government of Ukraine]]
*{{flagicon image|Геральдичний знак - емблема МВС України.svg}} [[Militsiya (Ukraine)|Militsiya]]
*{{flagicon image|Berkut shoulder patch.svg}} [[Berkut (Ukraine)|Berkut]]
| side2 = {{flagicon|Ukraine}} Ukrainian opposition
*[[National Salvation Committee]]
*[[Socialist Party of Ukraine|Socialist Party]]
*[[Ukrainian National Assembly – Ukrainian People's Self-Defence|UNA-UNSO]]
*[[Reforms and Order Party|PRP]]
*[[:uk:За правду!|For the Truth!]]
*[[Republican Platform|Sobor]]
*[[Ukrainian Republican Party|URP]]
| leadfigures1 = [[Leonid Kuchma]]<br/>[[Yuriy Kravchenko]]
| leadfigures2 = [[Taras Chornovil]]<br/>[[Andriy Shkil]]<br/>[[Volodymyr Chemerys]]<br/>[[Yuriy Lutsenko]]<br/>[[Yulia Tymoshenko]]<br/>[[Ihor Mazur]]<br/>[[Mykola Lyakhovych]]
| howmany1 = 2,000–4,000
| howmany2 = up to 7,000
| casualties1 = Policemen wounded: 12
| casualties2 = Activists arrested: 203
| charged = 19
}}
{{Leonid Kuchma series}}
'''"Ukraine without Kuchma"''' ({{langx|uk|Україна без Кучми, УБК|Ukraina bez Kuchmy}}, '''UBK''') was a mass [[protest]] [[political campaign|campaign]] that took place in [[Ukraine]] in 2000–2001, demanding the resignation of [[President of Ukraine|President]] [[Leonid Kuchma]], and preceding the [[Orange Revolution]]. Unlike the Orange Revolution, Ukraine without Kuchma was effectively extinguished by the government enforcement units, and followed by numerous arrests of the opposition and the Ukrainian-speaking participants. Seeking the criminal responsibility for those events was renewed with the election of [[Viktor Yanukovych]] as the [[President of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 September 2010 |title=The Prosecutor General's Office is digging under Shkil and other organizers of "Ukraine without Kuchma" |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2010/12/15/5674619/ |access-date= |website=[[Ukrainska Pravda]] |language=uk}}</ref>

"Ukraine without Kuchma" was organized by the [[parliamentary opposition|political opposition]], influenced by the infamous [[Cassette Scandal]], and aimed mainly to demand the resignation of the recently re-elected [[President of Ukraine|President]] [[Leonid Kuchma|Kuchma]]. The protests did not disappear untraced and resulted in consolidation of the democratic opposition which led to the [[Orange Revolution]].

==Beginning of the protests==
The first and barely noticed action of the campaign took place on 15 December 2000 on [[Maidan Nezalezhnosti]] (''Independence Square''), the main plaza of [[Kyiv]], the Ukrainian [[Capital (political)|capital]].<ref name="ukrainianweek19091">[http://ukrainianweek.com/Politics/19091 The First Revolution: 10 years later], [[The Ukrainian Week]] (11 March 2011)</ref> The protesters sought Kuchma's stepping down and proper investigations of the disappearance of journalist [[Georgiy Gongadze]].

==Growth of political support==
Soon, the initiative grew into a mass campaign widely supported by students and opposition activists. The opposition parties, having lost the [[1999 Ukrainian presidential election]] shortly before the scandal, considered the campaign as a natural reason for unification and reinforcement. The protests were organized as a network [[coalition]]<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=X0PAQrsx-6YC&pg=PA33 Revolution in Orange:The Origins of Ukraine’s Democratic Breakthrough] by [[Anders Aslund]] & [[Michael McFaul]], [[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]], 2006, {{ISBN|978-0-87003-221-9}} (page 33)</ref> and guided by collective leadership. However, [[Yulia Tymoshenko]]{{Dubious|date=March 2012}}<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ciKIBazTof8C&pg=PA351 Central and East European Politics:From Communism to Democracy] by Sharon Wolchik and [[Jane Curry]], [[Rowman & Littlefield Publishers]], 2007, {{ISBN|978-0-7425-4068-2}} (page 351)</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ck7j26KuoKcC&pg=PA34 The Colour Revolutions in the Former Soviet Republics:Successes and Failures] by Donnacha Ó Beacháin and Abel Polese, [[Routledge]], 2010, {{ISBN|978-0-415-58060-1}} (page 34)</ref> (at the time leading the [[National Salvation Committee]]),<ref name=Europe>[https://books.google.com/books?id=gP_-8rXzQs8C&pg=PA4295 Europa World Year Book 2], [[Routledge]], 2004, {{ISBN|978-1-85743-255-8}}, page 4295</ref> [[Yuriy Lutsenko]] (at that time representing the [[Socialist Party of Ukraine]]) and independent [[Volodymyr Chemerys]] became prominent leaders of the action. More than a dozen [[political parties]] supported the campaign, among them Socialists, the influential right-centrist [[People's Movement of Ukraine]] (both represented in Ukraine's [[parliament]], [[Verkhovna Rada]]), extreme-right [[UNA-UNSO]] and others. The leaders put aside the political differences between such mutually antagonistic groups and concentrated on anti-authoritarian protest and demands for political freedom. They also united in acceptance of broad{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} [[Western world|Western]] support for the campaign.

==Mass phase of the protests==
Students and youth constituted the majority of participants, although the campaign gained wide public support. Protesters set up a makeshift [[tent]] encampment on the [[sidewalk]]s of the plaza and neighbouring Khreschatyk Street. Active supporters were living or taking shifts in the tents, while many others occasionally visited the rallies. [[Discotheque]]s and concerts of liberal-oriented musicians were organized on the plaza. Student [[Strike action|strike]]s took place at some [[universities]]. [[Lviv]] and some other cities joined the campaign, but to a lesser extent.

==Authorities' efforts to tackle the protests==
Frightened by the scale and unusual [[tactic (method)|tactics]] of the campaign, the authorities repeatedly tried to destroy the camp using police and masked [[agent provocateur|provocateurs]], but avoided mass clashes. Trying to stop the protests, [[Mayor of Kyiv|Kyiv's mayor]] [[Oleksandr Omelchenko]] ordered a major reconstruction of the plaza, fencing most of it off. This prevented the protesters from gathering large crowds, but barely affected the campaign. Authorities in some other cities adopted the tactic, announcing "construction work" on their main squares, usually with no activity behind the newly installed fences.

==Controversial political impact on Cabinet==
Lacking general unity and forming a minority in the Verkhovna Rada, opposition politicians could provide protesters with only limited support, such as initiating a mock [[impeachment]] of Kuchma and making parliamentary protest. Pro-Western [[Liberalism|liberals]] were constrained in actions since they were backing up Kuchma's [[Prime Minister of Ukraine|Prime Minister]], highly-popular reformist [[Viktor Yushchenko]], in his efforts to oppose pro-President [[Oligarchy|oligarch]]s. The campaigners called on him to support their demands and take the lead. But Yushchenko refused, instead co-signing a highly critical public address with together with Kuchma. Some influential [[News media|media]] became [[bias]]ed in favor of the authorities.

Leonid Kuchma received three leaders of the campaign, heard out their daring accusations and demands, but refused to satisfy any. According to Volodymyr Chemerys, the President claimed that he would sack the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ukraine)|police Minister]] [[Yuriy Kravchenko|Kravchenko]] (accused in Gongadze's abduction), as protesters demanded, if only Yushchenko suggested this dismissal officially as Prime Minister - which never happened.

==March 2001 events and violent ending==
[[File:Ukraine Without Kuchma 9 March 4.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Mass clashes with [[Berkut (Ukraine)|Berkut]] in Kyiv, 9 March 2001]]
Occasional mass demonstrations were organized in front of government buildings. The organizers claimed a strategy of [[non-violent resistance]] but failed to sustain it. On 9 March 2001, the birthday of [[Taras Shevchenko]], there were few clashes between protesters and [[riot police]], and dozens were injured: arguably the most violent and populous riots in Ukraine's modern history at the time.<ref>[http://www.istpravda.com.ua/videos/2011/03/9/30212/ 2001: mass clashes with militsia (Ukrainian Pravda, Mar. 9, 2011)]</ref> Both sides of the incident blamed the other. Protest leaders argued that police provoked the last and most violent clash near the presidential palace, by blocking a procession and infiltrating it with provocateurs. Indeed, militarized right-wing extremists led the fight. In response, authorities conducted mass arrests in the city, focussing on [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]-speaking youth. Several opposition MPs took advantage of their [[parliamentary immunity]] by storming [[police]] stations and [[Police car|cars]] in efforts to release the apprehended.

The public impression of the incident led to a gradual decrease of support for the campaign. Soon, it was declared finished. A group of active participants of the March 9 clashes was convicted and imprisoned.
;Timeline of the March 2001 events
*March 1 – liquidation of strike tents by the decision of the former Starokyiv District Court of Kyiv city
*March 8 – announcement of [[National Salvation Committee]] that protesters plan not to allow the [[President of Ukraine]] [[Leonid Kuchma]] to lay down flower to the monument of [[Taras Shevchenko]] (His birthday anniversary).
*Night of March 8 through 9 – units of militsiya surround the Shevchenko Memorial Park
**08:30 – Kuchma laid down flowers, while the protesters are fighting the militsiya
**09:30 – arrests of several protesters
**10:45 – column of protesters marched to the Mykhailiv Square to the capital department of Internal Affairs where were brought the arrested who soon were released
**12:00 – political meeting in Shevchenko Memorial Park, numerous arrests
**13:45 – march to the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the request to release the arrested
**15:00 – mass clashes with units of Berkut en route to the Presidential Administration
**17:00 – Constituent Congress of the "For truth!" movement in "Building of Teacher"
**18:00 – brutal liquidation of UNSO office at the Dymytrov Street by the special units of militsiya
*Evening and night of March 9 – mass arrests at Kyiv's train and metro stations of Ukrainian-speaking people and students with state symbols<ref name="ukrainianweek19091"/>
'''References''':<ref>[http://www.newsru.com/world/09mar2001/budet.html Массовые акции протеста пройдут 9 марта в Киеве]</ref><ref>[http://www.newsru.com/world/09mar2001/kiev_kuchma.html В Киеве проходит акция протеста против президента Кучмы]</ref><ref>[http://www.newsru.com/world/09mar2001/shevchenko.html В Киеве 7 человек избиты, 20 арестованы во время митинга оппозиции в честь 187-летия Тараса Шевченко]</ref><ref>[http://www.newsru.com/world/09mar2001/kiev1.html Участники акции "Украина без Кучмы" атаковали здание администрации президента]</ref><ref>[http://www.umoloda.kiev.ua/print/84/45/65535 «Одинадцята заповідь Христа — «Не бійся!»]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.newsru.com/world/09mar2001/policedeny.html Киевская милиция опровергает сообщения об избиении участников митинга в Киеве у памятника Тарасу Шевченко]</ref><ref>[http://www.newsru.com/world/09mar2001/una_unso.html В Киеве разгромлен штаб УНА-УНСО, арестованы 70 членов организации]</ref><ref>[http://www.newsru.com/world/10mar2001/kiev.html В Киеве продолжается противостояние милиции и участников акции "Украина без Кучмы"]</ref><ref>[http://www.newsru.com/world/10mar2001/oppozicia.html Участников митинга в Киеве могут обвинить в преступлении против государства]</ref><ref>[http://www.istpravda.com.ua/videos/2011/03/9/30212/ 2001: масові сутички з міліцією - апофеоз "України без Кучми"]</ref><ref>[http://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2006/03/9/3074768/ 9 березня 2001 року: спогади і прогнози від ініціаторів "України без Кучми"]</ref><ref>[http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2001/03/9/2982081/ 9 березня Хроніка історичного дня]</ref>

==Long-term effects==
Later that year, Prime Minister [[Viktor Yushchenko]] was sacked by President Kuchma and joined the opposition. In [[2002 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2002 parliamentary election]], he led the [[Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc|Our Ukraine]] (''Nasha Ukraina'') [[electoral coalition]] that won the vote, but failed to form a majority in the [[Verkhovna Rada]]. Many protests leaders were united in that coalition, while others participated in the Socialist Party and [[Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc|Yulia Tymoshenko Electoral Bloc]] (the successor of the [[National Salvation Committee]]<ref name=Europe/>), which later became the political allies of Our Ukraine.

Yushchenko's campaign in the [[2004 Ukrainian presidential election|2004 presidential election]] was significantly influenced by the [[slogan]]s, tactics and general spirit of Ukraine without Kuchma. The [[Orange Revolution]], provoked by massive [[electoral fraud]] during the vote, happened in a manner very similar to 2001 campaign and was led mainly by the same politicians and activists.

After becoming the President, Yushchenko appointed [[Yuriy Lutsenko]], one of the leaders of campaign, [[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ukraine)|Minister of the Internal Affairs]] (i.e. the chief of the [[militsiya]]) and [[Yulia Tymoshenko]] was appointed [[Prime Minister of Ukraine|Prime Minister]]<ref name="tymoshenko.com.ua">[http://www.rferl.org/content/Tymoshenko_Profile/1291005.html Ukraine's Gold-Plaited Comeback Kid], [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] (September 23, 2008)</ref><ref>{{Cite Ukrainian law|type=[[President of Ukraine|Presidential decree]]|number=144/2005|law=144/2005|name=
On the recognition of Y. Tymoshenko as the Prime Minister of Ukraine|date=2004-02-04}}</ref><ref name=BBClineuk>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1107869.stm Ukraine timeline], [[BBC News]]</ref>

==TV coverage==
The main events and general trends of Ukraine without Kuchma campaign are studied in "The Face of Protest" TV [[Documentary film|documentary]] ({{langx|uk|"Обличчя протесту" – "Oblytchia Protestu"}}) made in 2003 by [[Andriy Shevchenko (politician)|Andriy Shevchenko]]. The film is based on the various TV footages of the protests and interviews of the participants on both sides (from campaign leaders to [[militsiya|militsioners]]).

==See also==
*[[Orange Revolution]]
*[[Rise up, Ukraine!]]
*[[Euromaidan]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Political scandals in Ukraine}}
{{Politics of Ukraine footer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ukraine Without Kuchma}}
[[Category:Ukraine without Kuchma| ]]
[[Category:Leonid Kuchma]]
[[Category:2000 protests]]
[[Category:2001 protests]]
[[Category:Yulia Tymoshenko]]
[[Category:Protests in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Social movements in Ukraine]]
[[Category:2000 in Ukraine]]
[[Category:2001 in Ukraine]]
[[Category:2000s in Kyiv]]
[[Category:Political scandals in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Ukrainian democracy movements]]
[[Category:Ukrainian nationalism]]
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2000]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2001]]
[[Category:History of Ukraine since 1991]]
[[Category:Police brutality in Ukraine]]