Ukraine - who didn't see this coming -what's good for the goose?

[malaise]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/08/ukraine-russia-plan-divide-country-operation
<snip>
A brawl erupted in the Ukrainian parliament chamber on Tuesday after the country's communist leader accused nationalists of playing into the hands of Russia by adopting extreme tactics early in the Ukrainian crisis.

Two deputies from the Svoboda far-right nationalist party took exception to the charges by communist Petro Symonenko and seized him while he was talking from the rostrum. His party supporters rallied to his defence and a brawl broke out with deputies from other parties joining in and trading punches.

Against the backdrop of the deepening crisis in the south-east, Symonenko stirred nationalist anger in parliament when, referring to the pro-Russian protesters who had seized buildings in eastern Ukraine, he suggested that nationalists had set a precedent earlier this year by seizing public buildings in protest at the rule of the ousted president, Viktor Yanukovych.

Now, he said, armed groups were attacking people who wanted to defend their rights by peaceful means.
----------------------

[jakeXT]

1. Looks like Svooda isn't that much into talking, but folks in the Rada are probably used to it

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-2248052/Vitali-Klitschko-watches-Ukrainian-Parliament-debate-erupt-brawl.html

[davidpdx]

2. Looks like the South Korean National Assembly

That dude (the one in the middle leaning over) looks like he's getting his ear pulled. Owch!



When all else fails, rip up the furniture. Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket.



Let's bust the door down while we're at it.

[davidpdx]

3. I think most people who have followed the situation could see that it wasn't going to stop

with Crimea. If Putin justified sending troops in there to "protect minorities" hell likely do the same thing in Eastern Ukraine.

[CJCRANE]

4. I think the point is more about the protests.

The leaders in Kiev are unelected and got there due to protests.

What happens when other groups start to protest?

There was a referendum in Crimea, a democratic vote. Is that a more or less democatic method than protests?

[Fred Sanders]

5. Shhhh, you are reminding people that democratically elected governments matter to some.

[mythology]

6. There was a referendum, but it certainly wasn't democratic

There was not a valid "no we'd like things to stay the same" option, there were Russian troops patrolling the area and a lot more troops just over the border.

[CJCRANE]

7. But "stay the same" was a state of an unelected government

brought in by protests.

That was a state of constitutional limbo.

Crimea was a part of Russia until 1954 when it was given to Ukraine by Kruschev.

I can see why the Crimeans wanted to go back to their original status.