Three rounds of election there and gone. But before that the Ukrainian people will have surprised the whole world , recording a new page in History, a certain winter 2004.
Three rounds of elections there and gone. But before that, the Ukrainian people astonished the world, recording a new page in History, a certain winter 2004. Following the second round of the presidential election in November 21st, a great human tide flows from all over Ukraine to Kyiv to denounce the rigged election results.
The people’s gathering grows bigger and bigger day after day, set and intent on overthrowing the corrupted authoritarian regime in power. The whole country is paralysed, the capital and its Place of Independence become witnesses of an unprecedented rising. The Revolution is under way.
Yet, the revolutionary passion, often violent and murderous, will not cause blood to be shed this time. After centuries of oppression, Ukrainians sometimes considered as a resigned people, rise to get back their freedom with an absolute control and discipline. A true peace fervour affects all the layers and generations of the population united by the Revolution leaders and speakers, Yushchenko and Tymochenko. But the heros are not political parties, but the people.
A people staying for 17 days in the frozen streets of Kyiv to defend democracy under the Orange Flag of Rising. A huge overwhelming wave of Ukrainians from everywhere, who came to create and build a new Ukraine right there, in spite of the difficult psychological, material and climatic conditions. On the Khreshchatyk boulevard, people form the opposition are camping right on the frozen ground called “the lane of liberty”, which became a place of great attraction for the whole world.
The Ukrainian “Champs Elysées” take on an air of carnival in course of the Orange Revolution. But the fatigue and tension begin to tell on the faces well until the verdict pronounced by the Supreme Court on the 3rd of December. It states about a re-run of presidential elections. This precursory relief becomes a turning point, the revolutionary atmosphere loosens up its strain. An immense hope overtakes the troops, incredulous of delivered promises of happiness, yet determined to draw a final line between the two worlds. At this time, a country is emerging out of the shadows.
© 2004 Cyril Horiszny
