Female faces of Ukrainian Revolution



The protest which began as peaceful and ended with nearly a hundred of deaths, led to the victory of the opposition and the change of leadership in the country. New elections are scheduled for May 25. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is on the run, no one knows where is he. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was released from prison and already said her speech on Maidan, the central square of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.



All this has happened in the last couple days. Social networks are full of optimistic comments about the end of Yanukovych’s dictatorship. However, it is too early to say how will finish for Ukraine complete power shift.



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The fact that Yulia Tymoshenko was freed from prison, of course, affects the balance of political forces in the country. Earlier she was defiantly imprisoned, but today she becomes a symbol of the struggle for democracy. Two and a half years ago, during her trial, she said : "I think that the sentence, which today President Yanukovych announces will only add to Ukrainians strength and understanding that dictatorships and regimes do not go by themselves, they should be eliminated." These words became prophetic. Today Yulia Tymoshenko says: "Since today all our beautiful country can see the sun, the sky. Because the dictatorship felt down, and it felt down not because of politicians, but because of people."



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Another female face of Ukrainian revolution I want to introduce you is Lesya Orobets, a deputy of Ukrainian parliament. During the protest she published regular updates on social networks, participated in protests on Euromaidan, and gave interviews in mass media. One of her latest posts in facebook is: "I look at what is happening and understand: Finally a new country is born. Although with psychological and physical traumas we will fight for a long time, and no one will bring back the ones who died, but it is impossible to control free citizens now, because they are not “the population”."



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Winner of Eurovision music contest Ukrainian singer Ruslana from the very beginning of the protest was on the front lines with ordinary people cheering up their spirit with songs and playing the piano.



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A few days ago a picture of one of the activists was spread through social networks. Following armed clashes on Independence square in Kiev one of the girls, Maidan’s nurses, tweeted: “I’m dying “. She was shot in the neck, but fortunately survived.



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In general, women are actively involved in the protest, refused to move, even during assaults and attempted to disperse Maidan. Some of them cooked, provided medical care, and others have tried to appeal to the police to stop the killing and maiming their fathers, husbands and sons. This all means: women equally with men are ready to fight for a free and happy future for them and their children. And at the same time, women are those who seek peace and tranquility.



Ukrainian revolution has its female face - and this is the face of peace!

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