The European Union, countries of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Canada and the United States have a major interest in these events having invested time and millions upon millions to help Ukraine emerge from the wasteland of the Soviet Union and help it find a place in the democratic world.
International expectations and the hopes of Ukrainian citizens are being thwarted by Ukraine’s current political leadership. The 2010 election of President Viktor Yanukovych has led to a Soviet-style constitution, comparable repressive practices and the persecution of political opponents. The democratic space shrinks alarmingly. By international standards, Ukrainian constitutional, legal and judicial systems have been seriously compromised. As the country wobbles towards destroying its democracy and freedoms, how might these developments be reversed?
Although international voices have joined in a chorus of condemnation and disappointment, effective action has been absent. Mired in its financial and political crises the European Union is for the moment distracted. New democratic states adjoining Ukraine (Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia) have insufficient political weight to trouble the Ukrainian president. The other neighbors – Belarus and Russia – are indifferent to democratic ideals. Additionally, Yanukovych and his regime clearly demonstrate a Soviet mindset that will readily ignore all criticism. They have shown this time and time again.
In face of this obduracy, the democratic world must face up to its responsibilities. It is time for like-minded democratic countries to adopt appropriate and measured sanctions by which the Yanukovych regime may be persuaded to reverse its course.
First, a coalition of states (e.g. The European Union, the United States, Commonwealth members , OSCE countries) should be formed to impose a selective visa travel ban against Ukrainian officials and their immediate families (some of whom are already living abroad!). The ban should be aimed at the security, judicial and prosecutorial ministries and politicians known to be interested in the persecution of political opponents. These form the hawkish core of the Yanukovych regime. This group fears being isolated in a country whose nest they have fouled.
A visa ban should also be applied to the chairman of the Ukrainian parliament (not really a “speaker” in western parliamentary sense). Armed with a chairman’s mandate substantially unchanged from Soviet times, the chairman manipulated the Parliamentary system to make it possible for the Yanukovych regime to dismantle Ukraine’s nascent democracy.
Second, apply financial pressure. Before Poland rejoined the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in 1986, it felt “compelled” to issue two successive declarations of amnesty for political prisoners. Not a bad idea for Ukraine? The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has a unique democratic requirement when it lends money. EBRD’s formal mandate is “to promote private and entrepreneurial initiative in the Central and Eastern European countries committed to and applying the principles of multiparty democracy, pluralism and market economics (my underline).” Ukraine is in no way demonstrating much interest in implementing democratic principles. Just the reverse. So slowing down payments and investments would pressure the government whose fiscal situation is perilous. This issue should be raised in the financial corridors of EBRD, which in December pledged $100 million to support Ukrainian small business while ignoring its own mandate!
Some country must lead an assembly of concerned democratic states prepared to participate in a travel/visa ban as indicated above and in applying financial pressure. Canada could play that role. Both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird have spoken out strongly about the Yanukovych regime’s disrespect for democratic fundamentals. Levers to move Ukraine in a democratic direction are available. Let the international community act and not just talk.
Nestor Gayowsky is from Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island in Canada.
