Uladzimir Matskevich:It is impossible to rescue Ukrainian revolution without introducing martial law

Local Ukrainian authorities and certain structures are sabotaging central authorities’ decisions; Ministry of the Interior “fails words” and anti-terror operation seems to be illogical and irregular.

Tragedy in Odessa clearly demonstrated that sabotage and polycracy in Ukraine have reached its highest level. On the mourning day militia freed the separatists caught on May 2, who were to be transported to Kiev under guard. And in the actions militia was rather acting on the side of the terrorists.

Uladzimir Matskevich, the head of the Board of “EuroBelarus”, the philosopher and methodologist assumes that the Ukrainian authorities can lose any leverage if they don’t resort to decisive actions as soon as possible.

- This is the main and old Ukraine’s problem – very weak statehood, weak discipline among the members of the top brass. And new authorities adopted it from the previous ones, - noted Uladzimir Matskevich in the interview with the “EuroBelarus” Information Service. – If we will try to recall, during Maidan Yanukovich was blamed for putting up with all the unrest. Roughly speaking, any protest means unrest. And in any other country such protest would either be dispersed or the authorities would start negotiating with the protesters. But Yanukovich didn’t have enough power to obligate militia to start decisive actions. Basically, both under the rule of Yanukovich and now, any subdivision of militia can refuse to obey the orders; not in protest, but to sabotage the decisions of the authorities. And personnel appointments that today’s authorities are making don’t promote consolidation and strengthening of the law enforcement structures in Ukraine. Many mistakes were made under the pressure of such circumstances as the political situation in the regions, political situation in Verkhovna Rada and so on.

Another side of this global problem is that the new Ukrainian authorities are only partially new. Basically, after Yanukovich fled, the power went to Rada, which used to be his backbone with the majority of Party of Regions’ members in it. However, after Yanukovich was gone, the pressure of the president chain of command disappeared and Rada lost its guidelines. For some time the Party of Regions was making concussions; but now certain clannish oligarchic connections and relations are restoring, and pressure is exerted on Rada deputies anew. Roughly speaking, revolution in Ukraine is inconsistent, the old Rada was partially preserved, but after Yanukovich disappeared it has become a hostage of oligarchic groups. And that is why decisive actions are so hard to accept for Rada.

- And Kremlin is exploiting that to its utmost…

- Not only Kremlin – it is also all kind of oligarchic groups, local ruling clans… And all that creates the threat of chaos and escalation of conflict in Ukraine.

- Without waiting for May 11, eastern part of Ukraine is conducting an “oral referendum” in relation to the region’s future. Does it mean that the separatists are hurrying to legalize their goals and by that to introduce Russian army?

- In the situation of anarchy or polyarchy in a number of Ukrainian cities in the eastern Ukraine no referendum is possible. Even Russia, which could have wanted to weaken Ukraine or seek its federalization so that to save control over the part of the regions, cannot but understands that. However, the process has been launched; and that is why some separatists are acting autonomously now. There also exists a very similar precedent that happened in Transdniestria, where the situation was developing in the same way, and the similarity is huge. It implies that when the population is confused and the authorities are paralyzed, it is criminal groups who are starting to take control over situation. And oligarchic organization of Ukraine only adds to that. Back in time, a decisive person, lieutenant-general Lebed managed to take the situation in Transdniestria under control, though he acted in accordance with the Russian interests. Now the situation in Ukraine can only be taken under control if the authorities make some decisive actions, using law enforcement agencies and Ukrainian army. However, Ukraine’s Constitution forbids using army against the country’s population unless the martial law is introduced. But the situation has reached its crisis point, and to introduce the martial law in the eastern regions would be a right and rational thing to do. However, today’s Ukrainian authorities do not seem capable of doing that. So where could such decisive force as lieutenant-general Lebed come from? The answer is obvious – only from Russia. And I believe that Russia has such scenario in plans. Thus, Russian scenario presupposes further destabilization of the situation in the eastern Ukraine, support of the subversives from Russia and local separatists, the continuation of the information war so that the introduction of the Russian army would become needed… This scenario can only be opposed by the introduction of the martial law.

- It looks like it might happen soon.

- Right, but I think that the government of Yatsenyuk doesn’t have enough power for that, as well as there are certain doubts in the decisiveness and responsibility. As to the acting president Turchinov, unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to be capable of heading the struggle of his people and winning.

-  We don’t see leaders capable of that in Kiev now…

- And that is where the problem is – we don’t see such people in Ukraine’s elite now. If we recall the structural regularities of a revolutionary process, any revolution has to face and experience the revolutionary chaos, anarchy and lawlessness of all sorts of small leaders, petty monarchs and dictators; the main thing is not to be late with overcoming that, as it is Ukraine’s integrity and its future that are at stake now. And extremely difficult economic situation, which has led to Maidan, awful state and political structure of Ukraine with the unlawful and cynical oligarchy is seriously worsening today’s situation. There is certain border in economical situation, which is very dangerous to cross. Thus, starting from a certain point, the return to normalization and to improvement is becoming very hard, and can be effective only with the external control. If Ukraine needs this external control, it will mean that the Ukrainian state failed as it is. And by repeating that the Ukrainian state has failed Russian politicians and ideologists are trying to justify their actions in Ukraine. Many observers are saying that Putin’s aggression has the consolidating effect for the Ukrainian people. However, it applies more to the moral and mental consolidation, but now technical consolidation at the level of state control is required. To feel yourself a Ukrainian citizen and Ukraine’s patriot is not enough; pragmatic, decisive actions, which would consolidate the authorities are required.