![]() ![]() ![]() These protests claimed the lives of over 100 civilians but did ultimately result in the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych. This directly led to Pro-European protests on the streets of Kyiv against the administration starting in Kyiv’s Independence Square, Maidan, on November 21st and continuing into 2014.Ĭrowds gather at Maidan Square, Kyiv, (photo: Ewan Spence)Īs the pro-European protests waged on in Kyiv, the government increasingly cracked down on the protestors which in turn led to more people protesting in Maidan. In November 2013, then Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych publicly announced that he would not be signing the agreement. In addition, it threatened Ukraine that signing the Agreement would have consequences for the country. This did not please the Russian state, which imposed restrictions on exports into Russia from Ukraine. In March 2012, the Ukrainian government establishing an Association Agreement with the European Union, the first step on the road towards full EU membership. ![]() It’s also worth noting Ukraine’s reliance on Russian coal, gas and oil. To the west, the European Union and all of the potential economic benefits that closer diplomatic relationships with other European nations would bring to the east, a long-standing cultural link with Russia not only represented in the similarity of their language and culture but also in the fact that 17 percent of the country self-identifies as Russian. ![]() To the majority of viewers, this seemed like the kind of competitive result that would have signified positive momentum between the nations but back in Ukraine, there were more complicated issues affecting citizens.Įver since Ukraine gained its independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the country has been caught both ideologically and geographically between two different cultural identities. If we look at the voting between the two countries 2013, Ukraine awarded 4 points to Russia and Russia 1 point to Ukraine. Malmö 2013 was a great year for both countries as Zlata Ognevich managed third place with ‘Gravity’ and Dina Garipova managed fifth place with ‘What If’. To illustrate the impact of the conflict on the Eurovision Song Contest, let’s go back to a time when there was relative calm in both Russia and Ukraine. ![]()
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