On April 22 the president of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko made an official statement that there is «an extremist organisation “Antifa”» in Ukraine and demanded from SBU (Ukraine Security Service) – «to check all the information concerning coordination of its activity by the foreign anti-Ukrainian organizations». This is an exceptional incident: the president points out to the law enforcing services that there are extremists in Ukraine, names them, and insinuates who their real organizers and patrons are.
But where the president got such information?
On April 17, in Odesa during the skirmish between ultra-rights and antifascists one of the far rights (Maksim Chaika) had been injured and later died. In spite of the evidence that ultra-rights attacked a smaller group of antifascists, who simply defended themselves, nobody - neither journalists, nor politicians - have used the term "self-defense". Instead antifascists were labeled as “pro-Russia militants”, who consciously killed "an activist of patriotic civic association" (mass-media statement). The attack of one side and self-defense of the others have become an instrument of political PR for those who want to use this tragedy to gain certain points or to eliminate opponents.
The president’s statement was the culmination. From his words we got to know about the organization “Antifa”, which is extremist and which, of course, is coordinated from the hostile 'foreign centers'. Nevertheless, “antifa” is not an organization but a network movement; not Ukrainian or Anti-Ukrainian but worldwide; and, of course, the president has not produced any proofs. And what do we know about another side of the skirmish?
The deceased Maksim Chaika was a leader of Odesa far rights, member of the organization "SICH" (“Glory and Honor”) and a football fan of FC “Chornomorets”. Partly because of “Chornomorets” fans the city of Odesa periodically appears in human rights monitoring reports concerning racial or national hate crimes. We mean not only vandalism on Jewish cemetery but also attacks with human victims. In the last few days many Internet-users have received access to photo and video materials confirming that force, which attackers of April 17 belong to, is not just “patriotic”. In particular we could see so called 'roman' (Nazi) salutes, Nazi symbols, stories about participating in “actions” against “foreigners”.
“SICH” civic association, which Maksim Chaika belonged to, is a member of so called 'Social-nationalist assembly' together with the odious “Patriot of Ukraine” association. Materials published both on the “Assembly” and “Patriot of Ukraine” web-sites leave no doubts in neo-fascist and paramilitary character of these organizations. But the president Yushchenko, in spite of the stated above, has decided to choose young antifascists as a target, relying on the invalid data from prejudiced politicians.
In the last few days it was repeatedly mentioned that inquiry has got a video record of the attack on April 17. We are afraid that this record could be destroyed, in particular, because of the political pressure - its content contradicts to the Nazi-attackers version. Not to let this happen, we publicly announce our anxiety and demand to save the record.
We are receiving information about use of pressure on the witnesses by the law enforcement officials - both psychological and physical - only to purpose testimonies corresponding to the attackers’ version.
Events in Odesa could light up the fact that youth fascism in Ukraine has existed long ago, as well as confrontation between activists of far right and antifascist movements. Instead, we see politicized hysteria which only disgraces its participants.
We demand finding and investigation of the facts without any distortion, manipulation and pre-election persecution.
«Antifascist action»
Contact: antifascist.action.kiev [] gmail.com
“Chayka Affair” Will Not Be Investigated Impartially – Antifascists
Antifascists and human rights activists consider Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko’s recent statement to be intended to manipulate the public opinion and pressurize the investigation. They said it on April 24 in Kiev.
On April 21 the President said he would personally monitor investigation of the death of Ukrainian neo-Nazi Maksim Chayka who was killed during the fight between the far-right extremists and antifascists in Odessa.
“We really doubt that the inquest will be impartial and unbiased now, after the intervention of the President of State”, said Vladimir Chemeris from Respublika Institute, the human rights watchdog. He stressed that in the statement published by his press officer Iryna Vannikova, Mr. Yuschenko defined the incident as murder, not as self-defense.
“At the same time, the President proclaimed members of ‘Antifa’ organization – non-existent, by the way – to be extremists and ordered the law enforcement agencies to scrutinize political motives of the murder. Referring to the ‘racial purity’ advocates as ‘patriots’, the President shows his sympathy with Nazi”, Mr. Chemeris said. He also added that Mr. Yuschenko’s theses “are almost fully coherent with stance of the Nazi organizations ‘Patriot Ukrainy’ (Patriot of Ukraine), ‘Bratstvo’ (Brotherhood), and ‘Svoboda’ (Freedom)”.
Members of the Antifa movement said that the activist of the far-right radical organization ‘Sich’ Maksim Chayka was lethally wounded as a result of the necessary self-defense of the antifascists. Yuriy Lebedev from the ‘Antifashystska diya’ (Antifascist action) movement underlined that the incident happened after 15 neo-Nazis had attacked 5 antifascists. Police must have the CCTV video record which can prove it. “Antifa had no doubts about the far-right’s aggressiveness. Statistical data on hate crimes including murders shows the threat of Nazi in the streets”, he said.
Vitaliy Dudin from the ‘Sotsialna alternatyva’ (Social Alternative) movement said that Ukrainian President wrongly defined ‘Antifa’ as pro-Russian extremist movement. “Antifa is not an organization, it’s the global union of men and women opposed to Nazism among the youth. As advocates of interracial equality and solidarity, we are the direct opposite of the Nazis”, he stressed. Mr. Dudin added that “now Nazis are playing victims, but before this incident they always stressed their militancy”. Antifascists also reject the accusations of “pro-Russian” orientation: they remind that in Russia, as well as elsewhere in Europe, there are Antifa who often engage in conflicts with authorities.
Speakers also provided proofs that ‘Sich’ is a radical Right organization. It is a member of the so-called ‘Social-national assembly’ which propagates racism. Views of the late Maksim Chayka are explained by himself in a video record which recently appeared on the internet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5klXAu-LDU.
The press conference was also attended by the antifascist from Kiev who had fallen victim of Odessa criminal police. On April 22 he was detained and taken from home to Odessa for interrogation during which he was beaten and received spine trauma. He was finally released with no money or documents in a city 500 km away from home. He was detained because he had personally known Odessa antifascists who had taken part in the fight on April 17. He promised to appeal against the actions of the police.
Meanwhile, antifascists from all regions of Ukraine expect repressions from the authorities.
Source: http://community.livejournal.com/ua_indymedia/393776.html
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