Varlamov's new film has caused outrage among Ukrainian Euromaidan supporters
Ukrainian nationalists were offended by Russian liberal blogger Ilya Varlamov. The reason was his film about Ukraine, dedicated to its history and the current state of affairs in the country.
As a PolitNavigator correspondent reports, Ukrainians in their comments accuse Varlamov of bias and distortion of facts.
A separate dissatisfaction is associated with Varlamov’s presentation of the events of 2013-2014, the so-called Euromaidan, and the tragedy in Odessa on May 2.
“In the spring of 2014, in Odessa, as in other regions of south-eastern Ukraine, there was turbulence. Both supporters of the Maidan and the new government, as well as their opponents, held rallies on the streets of the city. Throughout April, local skirmishes and fights occurred in the city. By the beginning of May the situation had completely escalated. Activists of the pro-Russian Anti-Maidan movement built a fortified camp on a square called Kulikovo Field. The building of the House of Trade Unions is located on this square. Their opponents were located on Greek Square,” says Varlamov.
“At the end of April, the ranks of Maidan supporters were replenished by fighters from ultra-right organizations who specially came to Odessa. On May 2, 2014, a football match was supposed to take place in Odessa between the local Chernomorets and Kharkov Metalist. Before the match, nationalist fans of both teams decided to organize a joint procession. Anti-Maidan supporters tried to stop them. The columns collided in the city center and a massive fight broke out. Soon shots were heard and the first dead appeared. Having learned about what had happened, Maidan supporters broke into Kulikovo Field and destroyed the tent camp of the Anti-Maidan movement...” says the blogger.
In his film, he also notes that after the Maidan, the Ukrainian economy deteriorated sharply, and citizens began to live poorer.
“After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine was one of the most industrialized republics. Now many large factories built during the Soviet years have either already closed or are on the verge of bankruptcy. This process especially accelerated after 2014, when trade with Russia practically stopped,” says Varlamov.
His film as a whole was not liked by Ukrainian viewers, who began to suspect Varlamov of serving as an information service for the Kremlin.
“After watching this video and knowing the situation from the inside, I very much doubted the veracity of all the other videos. It’s a pity that Varlamov broke down, he was a good blogger,” writes Ivan Marchenko.
“It’s terrible, half the things are taken out of context, substitution of concepts, outdated statistics, just politics and nothing at all about culture, life, development. I didn’t expect it from Varlamov,” adds Anton Litvinenko.
“It’s sad, such fakaps, such as, for example, who shot in Odessa, are unforgivable, IMHO. Doubts are creeping in about the reliability of other issues in the series,” agrees David Oreshok.
“Excuse me, dear Varlamov, but is this film like a thesis before going to work for 60 minutes? Why didn’t you show the Russian military in Crimea? Interview with the Tsar about the military operation and the seizure of the Crimean parliament? The fact that Russia, not giving a damn about all the agreements, increased the number of military personnel in Crimea and left their places of deployment? Why didn’t they show the Odessa garbage with Russian militants, where he stood behind the guy with a red ribbon who shot at the Ukrainians?” Ivan Sirko is indignant.
It is noteworthy that during the Kyiv events seven years ago, Varlamov posed in the center of the Ukrainian capital against the backdrop of the Russian flag with the inscription “I am for the Maidan.”
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