Ukraine’s Officials, Opposition Flock to Luxury Ski Resort

Lib€rt€, €galit€, frat€rnit€!



Bienvenue à Courchevel! €4K champagne, €10K skis, €25M chalets. Step aside Eurotrash! Here come the guys with cash!
 
Klitschko, Berezhna, Kilchytska, Firtash... Some of these guys might be "opposing" each other back home. But here? Here it’s nothing but e pluribus unum! And they keep coming back for more. It’s just like Davos. Except you can save all the lofty rhetoric for your kids.
 
Now how about the ultimate down-to-earth opposition skiing experience?


 
Sources:
http://censor.net.ua/video_news/229527/40_otdyhayuschih_vipov_v_kurshevele_ukraintsy_berejnaya_i_kilchitskaya_sbegayuschie_ot_jurnalistov_i
http://tsn.ua

Rice Takes Watch Off, Recalls Arab Spring, Ceausescu

Feeling nervous lecturing our man, huh?



Hope it was nothing special. Not that special.

"We Will Stop Them!" the opposition says.



You do the math. 

Sources:
http://yes-ukraine.org/ua/photo-and-video/video/9-ta-yaltinska-shchorichna-zustrich/shchodenniki-9-yi-yaltinskoyi-shchorichnoyi-zustrichi-den-1-sesiya-3
http://tabloid.pravda.com.ua/brand/5052d94540220/
http://tabloid.pravda.com.ua/lounge/5055c18515504/

Countryside Toddler Dies as Hospitals Juggle Him

Dear West, can you send your doctors to Ukrainians who need them?

In a country where politicians of all stripes have so much gas, why do ambulances have so little? Why so many hospitals without doctors?

Police are now looking into how a cup of hot water killed the kid. In the unlikely event that someone goes to jail for this, will Western dignitaries flock to them too?

If you guys don’t want "selective justice," what do you want? Suicidal justice? Like, the Bloods turning themselves in or shooting themselves, and the Crips following suit?

Or maybe all you want for Ukraine is 100% stability and 0% accountability? Maybe you’re fine with the crooks as long as they don’t have the nukes?

 

Fellas, don’t shoot each other
In this life you have nothing to divvy up
At the round table forget your grievances
‘Cause burying friends is hard for everyone

If this is your song for Ukraine, why complain about corruption?

Sources:
http://life.pravda.com.ua/society/2012/05/17/102517/
http://tsn.ua

Rallies Against ‘Killer Kids’ as Raped/Burned Girl Struggles for Life

FEMEN went on top of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Смерть ублюдкам! from FEMEN Video on Vimeo.

Death to the sadists! Oksana, you have to pull through! Castrate the bastards! Murderers to jail!

One of the three "killer kids" in the Mykolayiv rape-and-burn case happens to be the son of a former prosecutor. (Not according to the local prosecutor’s office, of course.) Another one is the son of the city’s former top official. Well, at least no denials here. Both had been initially released but taken back into custody later on as public pressure built up. In this video, the third suspect apparently takes the fall for his buddies.

In Ukraine, you can beat, rape, strangle, mangle, hunt, kill and even burn people and get away with it. If you have cash or connections, of course. If you don’t, you better get together to defend yourself like these ordinary people do.

Rich "killer kids," or mazhory as we call them in Ukraine, have created a cultural phenomenon far more prevalent than student rampages in the US. Maybe it's because here in Ukraine violent crime of this nature goes unpunished far more often than in the US?

By virtue of the almighty dollar, not probable cause or Miranda, the perpetrators either receive ridiculous sentences or avoid any jail time whatsoever. The list goes on and on.

Some US and EU tourists love Ukrainian oligarchs. But...not the way of life that oligarchy enforces on its aborigines, as opposed to its aficionados. If you know any such aficionados personally, show them this girl.

Now imagine she's your daughter.

Actions speak louder than words. As of today, Ukrainians remain largely lethargic, with just a few small protests here and there. Still, even in the most lethargic part of Ukraine, people already mince no words.

Man: It might be a bit rude, but let him drop dead!

Woman: Let him live like I do. No jobs. My son just came back from the army and there are no jobs.

She’s talking about the guy who’s got a job — the job. The guy who doesn’t show up for work until 11:00 a.m. and calls it a day at 4:15 p.m.

If only he could dig up some more of that magic enriched uranium at his marvelous Mezhyhirya ranch.

Wouldn’t that be a great way to enrich Ukraine’s democracy at the upcoming Nuclear Servility Summit in Seoul?


R.I.P. Oksana (died March 29).

Sources:
http://femen.livejournal.com/
http://censor.net.ua/video_news/200330/jiteli_nikolaeva_trebuyut_pojiznennogo_majoram_ya_hochu_spravedlivosti_i_suda_nad_etimi_podonkami_video
http://censor.net.ua/video_news/200311/harkovskie_selyane_o_yanukoviche_tse_vrod_grubo_nu_shob_vn_zdoh_video
http://censor.net.ua/video_news/200244/u_yanukovicha_korotkiyi_rabochiyi_den_uehal_s_bankovoyi_v_1615_video

Few Books, Lots of Booze for Rural Teens

Try playing the $125/mo English teacher in rural Ukraine.



No castles, no showers, no bidets. No textbooks either.

Well, here’s the consolation prize: booze.



Some bright kids go for the books.



Others don’t. What a great supply of labor migrants for energy-rich Russia and englightened Europe.

The same Europe that pays less for Russia’s gas and values some of Ukraine’s elites so much. Talk about European values.

Luckily, those 45 Ukrainians on board the Costa Concordia have survived. Will the captain apply for asylum? In Russia or Mezhyhirya maybe?



Meanwhile, Tymoshenko’s tigress is expecting. Some French guy did this.




No, he’s not in the government and hasn’t picked up his Légion d'honneur yet:)

Sources:
http://life.pravda.com.ua/society/2012/01/13/92774/
http://tsn.ua/video/video-novini/navchannya-bez-pidruchnikiv.html
http://tsn.ua/video/video-novini/yake-dozvillya-vlashtovuyut-sobi-silski-uchni.html
http://tsn.ua/video/video-novini/angliyska-z-korovami-abo-yak-zaohotiti-vchitisya-progulnikiv.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYwLQDwqDCI
http://tsn.ua/video/video-novini/ulyublenicya-timoshenko-narodit-vid-francuza.html

Is This Tymoshenko’s Suite, Er, Cell?

Liberté, égalité, bidet!






Not quite as cool as her Koncha-Zaspa place or Yanukovych’s Mezhyhirya principality, huh?

Still pretty upscale by Ukrainian standards.

I mean, if we’re talking about Ukrainians who voted for Tymoshenko only to lose their jobs, homes and savings. They didn’t realize she’d be funneling billions of tax hryvnias into banks, signing scorched earth gas deals and vacationing bigtime.

And when they did, many of them chose not to vote for her again. Game over.

Sure King Yanukovych is making a show of this super-EU-style cell. No mistake about it.

But every time I hear the word torture applied to Queen Tymoshenko, I can’t help crying like North Korea.



Sources:
http://www.pravda.com.ua/photo-video/2012/01/3/6886292/
http://censor.net.ua/video_news/193151/za_timoshenko_24_chasa_v_sutki_vedetsya_videonablyudenie_svet_v_kamere_ne_gasyat_vlasenko_video

Yanukovych Ducks Unexplained Wealth Question

Now that she’s done working, he’s all work and no play.

Reporter Mustafa Nayem: I would like to ask you the following question. Today indeed you’ve stated many times that the country’s economy is bad and that indeed people haven’t yet experienced improvements in living standards and that we don’t have money in our budget for Chernobyl and Afghan vets and yet at the same time on a daily basis we all see the circumstances of how your own life in particular is being improved. We see how you’re renting a chopper for a million dollars from a firm that, according to an Ukrayinska Pravda report, belongs to, or is controlled by, your son. We know for a fact that at Mezhyhirya construction is in progress by firms that are controlled by your son. Tell us: Why the disconnect? What’s the secret of your success? Why is it that the country’s doing poorly and you’re doing so fine? Thank you.

President Viktor Yanukovych: Uh…[chuckles]…I’ll tell…I’ll tell you what…uh…what you’re spinning so passionately…uh…it absolutely doesn’t interest me to any great extent. And I’ll tell you the reason for that. Because…I…have very little time, you know, for pleasure. Very little time. Yesterday, for a example, I came home at about 3 a.m., and today I got up at 6 in the morning. Yep. The day before yesterday it was a bit earlier and so on. That’s why I don’t know what easy street you’re talking about, and then you’re discussing my family all the time. I want to tell you I don’t envy you. Hahaha!

Audience: Hahaha!

Yanukovych: Hahaha! You and I know and understand each other well.

Spokeswoman: Next question, please.

Yanukovych: You figure out the rest.

Sometimes his alarm clock goes all jealous on him.



Which is why he doesn’t show up for work until 11 a.m...

Sources:
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2011/12/21/6854230/
http://blogs.pravda.com.ua/authors/leschenko/4eeb298c40a35/

Is This Tymoshenko’s Infirmary Cell?

If so, political prisoners have more fun.

Tymoshenko: [...] there have been torture prevention reports by the United Nations Organization that prior to this I was held in conditions that were unacceptable. And that’s why I don't want you putting on a show like this.

1:16-1:28

Student Ihor Indylo, who died in police custody overnight, didn’t have the same torture prevention coverage.



He fell from his bunk right to his death. Three times. It was his third fall that killed him, according to police reports.

What about political prisoner Blagojevich? Does he have a comfy place like Tymoshenko's?

Sources:
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2011/12/14/6838233/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSYYNzhTFxY
http://censor.net.ua/video_news/183642/video_kamer_nablyudeniya_rayiotdela_militsii_v_kotorom_umer_igor_indylo_studenta_izbili_srazu_posle

5,000 Fans Rally Outside Lockup as Tymoshenko Turns 51

"Вітю на нари, Юлю на Канари!" (0:32-0:35)

Ukrainians celebrate opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko birthday from alexey solodunov on Vimeo.

"Put Viktor in jail and Yulia in a fairy tale!" (poetic translation:)

As if 2008-2009 wasn’t enough of a fairy tale. The economy drops 15%, the hryvnia loses 60% of its value. People lose their jobs, savings and homes.

And PM/presidential candidate Tymoshenko loses €100K on a Spain getaway?























Not to mention her gas deal that now has Ukraine (Gazprom’s biggest client ‘10) paying well above the EU spot rates: $414 v. $360-$380. We'd be paying $514 had Yanukovych not won that super-magic gas-for-fleet discount.

Not only have we joined the EU, we’ve gone the extra mile.



So where are we, ladies? Jamaica? Haiti?



Sources:
http://vimeo.com/32764239
http://censor.net.ua/video_news/189365/miting_u_sizo_5_tysyach_storonnikov_gory_tsvetov_i_horovoe_penie_gimna_video http://mignews.com.ua/ru/articles/93629.html
http://durdom.in.ua/uk/main/photo/photo_id/27664/person_id/1.phtml
http://focus.ua/

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney: Tymoshenko Was 'Unindicted Co-Conspirator'

We jail your former PM L = prosecution. You jail your former PM T = persecution.







So being an “unindicted co-conspirator” kind of grants immunity from U.S. prosecution, right?

If you’re one of those lucky “unindicted co-conspirators,” you don’t get 9 years in U.S. jail like your not-so-lucky partner does. You don't even get indicted. Instead, you get full White House and State Department democracy support. Let’s call it “But She's Our Unindicted Co-Conspirator” program. Gaddafi bad, Karimov good.

Well, some U.S. judges beg to differ. To them, blood is definitely thicker than gas.


As the West worships Tymoshenko, her parliamentary bloc sides with the ruling Party of Regions again. This time they pass an election bill that kills two other opposition blocs' chances. Business as usual. The West loves that!




Rozkazhyyyyyy...chomuuuuu....teeeeell me whyyyyyy...

Sources:
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2011/11/19/6767463/
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2011/11/19/6767482/

Yanukovych Scared, Tymoshenko Stoic as Protests Continue

Just to be clear: It's anti-Yanukovych protests, not pro-Tymoshenko ones.

Chernobyl vet: Screw them, screw them…they’re sitting up there and torturing these people, these Chernobyl folks. The Chernobyl folks were all there, no...nobody ran away from there, and those bastards up there are hiding their asses. [mumbled fragment] They’ve shipped their kids abroad. How long can they mistreat us like that? Yanukovych, come the fuck out, bitch!

He hears everyone.

Yanukovych: …and I’m being informed by law enforcement that…weapons are being procured inside the country…and an effort is under way to attack authorities. [ …] Already, people have lost everything: both fear and shame. So who’s organizing this? [ …] Not those who are struggling the most. Those who are struggling the most, they remain silent, patient and waiting.

No offense (or should we say no fence?), but do you see anyone waiting here?



















Well, there’s one lady who’s waiting.

Tymoshenko: Hold on!

She's not working, but she's definitely Ukraine now.

Sources:
http://censor.net.ua/video_news/186748/chernobyltsy_pod_kabminom_trebuyut_prezidenta_yanukovich_bld_vyhodi_ska_video
http://censor.net.ua/video_news/186760/yanukovich_lyudi_skupayut_orujie_chtoby_napadat_na_vlast_sovsem_strah_i_sovest_poteryali_video
http://censor.net.ua/video_news/186636/chernobyltsy_prolomili_zabor_i_voshli_na_territoriyu_vokrug_parlamenta_grajdane_bandity_sdaemsya_po
http://www.pravda.com.ua/photo-video/2011/11/1/6719710/
http://www.pravda.com.ua/photo-video/2011/11/3/6727110/
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2011/11/4/6730871/

Afghan Vets Almost Storm Parliament Over Pension Cuts

Their war isn't over.


The government will mostly likely back down. No government can afford protesters with combat experience.

Not even the world's 134th transparent government (out of 178).


The government that puts Ukrainians out of their misery.

Sources:
http://censor.net.ua/video_news/all
http://pravda.com.ua
http://glavcom.ua
http://durdom.in.ua/uk/main/photo/photo_id/26399/person_id/1.phtml

Yanukovych: ‘Conditions Are Being CreMated for Entrepreneurship Development’ (Freudian Slip)

Too bad he didn't mention it in “Opportunity Ukraine.”

Yanukovych: Serious steps have been made on the pathway to reform: Pension and land reforms have been initiated, as well as health care, education, housing and urban development reforms. Conditions are being cremated for entrepreneurship development, a campaign to fight corruption has been launched.

He went off-script. He had to tell the truth. The brutal truth. Instead of створюються (stvo-ryu-yut-sya/created), he opted for спотворюються (spo-tvo-ryu-yut-sya), which literally means to twist or pervert. To keep the poetry in the translation, I came up with a rhyme for created.

So you can't accuse him of plagiarism on this one. In 2010 alone, some 400,000 small businesses closed up shop under pressure from the new tax code.

Why pay higher taxes? Well, here’s why. Welcome to Sukholuchchya!



It’s Yanukovych’s 91,429 acre hunting preserve, a private maximum security gulag, not far from his Mezhyhirya principality. Guarded by masked militia and Ukraine’s secret service.



Sources:
http://censor.net.ua/video_news/180715/yanukovich_ogovorilsya_dosyagnuto_chimalo_spotvoryuyutsya_umovi_dlya_rozvitku_pdprimnitstva_video
http://www.rada.gov.ua/~dtrp/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBTMLE5alyM
http://tvi.ua
http://durdom.in.ua/uk/main/photo/photo_id/26332/person_id/1.phtml

'Expendable' Coal Miner Speaks Out After Accident

“They used people as expendables, you understand?”



No safety, no shower, no heating. 2 accidents, 38 dead, millions in profits.

Welcome (back) to Ukraine!

Bazhanova mine, Makiyivka, Donetsk oblast: 11 dead
Sukhodolska-Skhidna mine, Luhansk oblast: 27 dead

The latter belongs to Ukraine's richest man/MP Rinat Akhmetov, a supporter of Yanukovych and a neighbor of Tymoshenko.

Fighting back tears, the miner who works at Akhmetov's mine identifies himself as Smetanin Ihor Volodymyrovych. He says he makes $162/month, cried all night helping recover the bodies and will most likely quit after 3 years on the job.

Sources:
http://censor.net.ua/ru/video_news/view/177169/v_razmen_lyudeyi_kak_rashodny
yi_material_my_tut_kak_skoty__gornyak_shahty_ahmetova_video
http://censor.net.ua/ru/video_news/view/176802/mat_propavshego_shahtera_on_gdeto_tam__pod_zavalom_vse_net_ego_video

Welcome to Tymoshenko, Akhmetov, Tabachnyk Beaches!

“Do you know where you are? Rich folks live here. So don't sail any closer!”



Can beaches be private property? No, says environmental law. Yes, says the law of the jungle.

That’s the law that trumps the law that guarantees free riverfront passage and bans home construction within 100 meters of any water body.

In a country where government is private property, nothing is impossible!

OK, here we go. Tymoshenko beach (4:17). Feels nice, but nobody’s home. Oh, she's so busy these days! Not only does she frequently appear in Yanukovych’s court...


...but she also lives next door to Ukraine’s richest man Rinat Akhmetov!

Red: Tymoshenko (former MP/PM/now opposition leader)
White: Akhmetov (oligarch/MP/Yanukovych backer)




Pretty cool, huh? How about an Overboard remake? Best filming location ever!

The final *swim-union* scene (2:04)















Donbas Arena opening ceremony (August 2009)

Anyway, other beaches turned out not so romantic.

Tabachnyk beach guard: “Are you gonna teach law to me? I have my own laws. You understand?”

Sources:
http://censor.net.ua/ru/video_news/view/174946/jurnalisty_popytalis_pozagorat_na_lichnyh_plyajah_timoshenko_ahmetova_i_tabachnika_ty_tolko_za_zabor_vylezesh_ya_tebya_iz_pistoleta_vylezu_video http://tsn.ua
http://www.pravda.com.ua/photo-video/2011/07/14/6386726/
http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/articles/2009/08/30/4501048/