July 31, 2014 – Cochabamba, Bolivia. CITIZENS RIGHTS WATCH- Usually post-communist countries of Europe have a difficult time when trying to reach economical standards of the European Union, which they are constantly compared by. Ukraine was not doing badly at this. Yes, it suffered two revolutions since it was officially declared independent in 1991, and yes, they did have a very slow growing economy; but it DID grow. The country had a growing GDP since 2008, and was on rails to being a member country of the EU. Then, political interests and old debts and bonds reappeared at its front door, and the root differences of its population became evident; most of the country was politically divided, in pro-Russia sector, and a pro-Ukraine sector. Both were very relevant in the history of the country. The problem was, they hit an iceberg; initially their former president Viktor Yanukovych thought they could manage to simultaneously enter into agreements and treaties with both, the EU and Russia, which plays an important role in Ukraine’s economy. Indeed, neither of the parties asked for exclusivity, but they did in an informal, subjective nature.  So suddenly, and due to its president original affiliation (pro-Russia) they suddenly became center of turmoil which escalated to riots, and ended with a revolution, true in effect but poor in results.
 
Whilst overseeing its turmoil which had as epicenter its capital Kiev, the eastern and southern parts seized the moment. Crimea went as far as declaring itself independent and was later annexed to Russia. Currently some eastern parts remain occupied by armed pro-Russian insurgents. Violation of Citizen Rights has become a part of everyday’s life for its population, not only in the east, but in the west as well. Every day there are confrontations, and a great many armed militia, either pro-Russia or pro-Kiev have died in them; this apart from the revolution of February. An even bigger number of civilans have been abducted, kidnapped, tortured and banned. Some of them continue to be unheard of. Fear has come into the household of the country, and everything is managed, said and done carefully. This limited life, with danger and violation to human rights on a daily basis has become reality for some citizens in Ukraine. Things harden when the one’s pressing the trigger most are admittedly not always in control of their guns, and the other parts stands by looking, while the population has to flee, sometimes outside of the country. This sums up on a big minority discrimination going on in Crimea, which has the Crimean Tartars as principal actors. They are discriminated even at a government level, and will soon be evicted from their property, so that it can be used for “social purposes”. Of course, this won’t be difficult for the government, as the Tartars mostly don’t have appropriate property paperwork. Their leaders are forbidden entrance to Crimea. Their look on the future seems very dire. All this makes it difficult to believe that only 2 years ago, this was a prospering country, that hosted the UEFA EURO 2012 along with Poland, candidate to being member of the EU, with advancements on Human Rights, and universalization of the basic needs of its citizens.