FAIR: Denying the Far-Right Role in the Ukrainian Revolution

[ProSense]

3. Most

In the US press, this generally means whitewashing the opposition that overthrew the government of President Viktor Yanukovych, since Yanukovych had the support of official enemy Russia. To maintain a simple good vs. evil framework, the fact that Ukraine's neo-fascist movement had a significant role in that opposition–and in the new government that replaced Yanukovych–was downplayed or even outright denied.

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Some commentators on the Ukraine crisis seem so convinced that it must be a struggle between good guys and bad guys that they're willing to ignore evidence that there's anything problematic about their chosen side.

...rational people don't assume it's a "simple good vs. evil framework" or a "struggle between good guys and bad guys" in Ukraine. The problem is that some are hyping the power and influence of the far right, and there is a lot of screaming about Nazis. It's also ironic that a piece about the role of the "bad guys" is making this claim.

One can find media coverage expressing concerns about far-right influences.

In Ukraine, nationalists gain influence - and scrutiny

By Sabina Zawadzki, Mark Hosenball and Stephen Grey

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Russia's president Vladimir Putin claims Ukraine has fallen into the hands of far-right fascist groups, and some Western experts have also raised concerns about the influence of extremists...Two of the groups under most scrutiny are Svoboda, whose members hold five senior roles in Ukraine's new government including the post of deputy prime minister, and Pravyi Sector (Right Sector), whose leader Dmytro Yarosh is now the country's Deputy Secretary of National Security.

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Expert opinions on Svoboda in particular are divided. Per Anders Rudling, an associate professor at Lund University in Sweden and researcher on Ukrainian extremists, has described Svoboda as "neo-fascist". He told Britain's Channel 4 News: "Two weeks ago I could never have predicted this. A neo-fascist party like Svoboda getting the deputy prime minister position is news in its own right."

But Ivan Katchanovski, a political scientist at the University of Ottawa who has studied the far-right in Ukraine, disagreed that Svoboda was so extreme. "Svoboda is currently best described as a radical nationalist party, and not as fascist or neo-Nazi," he said. "It is now not overtly anti-Semitic."

Andrew Srulevitch, director of European Affairs for the Anti-Defamation League, an international group based in the U.S. that monitors anti-Semites and other political extremists, said: "Svoboda has been disciplined in its messaging regarding Jews since the Maidan demonstrations started in November, but they have a history of anti-Semitic statements to overcome, and a clear political program of ethnic nationalism that makes Jews nervous."

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/07/us-ukraine-crisis-far-right-insight-idUSBREA2618B20140307

From the State Department fact sheet.

10. Mr. Putin says: The Rada is under the influence of extremists or terrorists.

The Facts: The Rada is the most representative institution in Ukraine. Recent legislation has passed with large majorities, including from representatives of eastern Ukraine. Far-right wing ultranationalist groups, some of which were involved in open clashes with security forces during the EuroMaidan protests, are not represented in the Rada. There is no indication that the Ukrainian government would pursue discriminatory policies; on the contrary, they have publicly stated exactly the opposite.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024612455

Current factions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verkhovna_Rada#Current_factions

Factions in parliament after elections
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Ukrainian_parliamentary_election#Factions_in_parliament_after_elections

Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov is a member of the Fatherland Party, which is the biggest bloc in the Ukraine Parliament.

Secretary of State John Kerry, Ukraine's interim President Oleksandr Turchynov (left), and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk met in Kiev.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2014/03/04/photos-crisis-ukraine/1qW4mjbnRwGOilPKWKPXDK/story.html?pic=1

Also, if Putin is pro-Yanukovych, it's funny that he has no interest in returning him to power.