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Ukrainian nationalist politician’s toddler scolding sparks outrage

Published: 17 March, 2010, 09:11
Edited: 17 March, 2010, 23:32

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TAGS: Children, Crime, Scandal, Ukraine, Yushchenko, Human rights, Prime Time Russia, Yanukovich


Since the presidential campaign ended, the issue of language has become divisive in Ukraine as Viktor Yanukovich is seen as a pro-Russian leader. Local nationalists want to protect their country from Russification.

A nationalist politician in Western Ukraine has sparked outrage after verbally attacking children at a nursery school simply for using the Russian form of their names. When Irina Farion, a politician from nationalist movement “Svoboda” visited a kindergarten in the city of Lvov on the Day of the Mother Tongue, she was keen to express her controversial views to impressionable ears. Farion was infuriated that some kids used the Russian versions of their names. And she was keen to hammer home her nationalistic message to the five-year olds.

One father of twins, who were at the receiving end of the politician’s anger, said that, while they did not really understand what was happening, his kids were still left upset.

“At first I thought they did not understand it,” Zelinsky told RT. “They did not talk about it. Then they started misbehaving and crying. They had trouble falling asleep, which is completely unlike them. I believe this woman’s aggressive approach to my kids was to blame.”

Rada deputy Vadim Kolesnichenko says the incident moves far beyond just upsetting children; he believes several laws were broken.

“It is a violation of Ukraine's criminal law on incitement of racial and ethnic hatred,” Kolesnichenko claimed. “It is a violation of a UN declaration on children's rights. Besides, she later commented that she did it on purpose, directly against children speaking Russian. That is why I turned this case to the Prosecutor General's office.”

It is no coincidence that the school incident took place in Western Ukraine, a region known for its strong nationalist moods. If anything, those beliefs have been stirred up by the recent election of President Viktor Yanukovich, as his perceived pro-Russian stance is deemed a threat to nationalistic ideals.

In Ukraine, agitation tents are usually associated with political campaigns, but even though the most recent presidential campaign is over, the Svoboda nationalist movement has decided to keep its presence in the Western Ukrainian city of Lvov.

Activists say they will do all they can to protect the Ukrainization policies of the previous leader Viktor Yushchenko.

“The new president Yanukovich wants to make Russian our second state language,” one of the activists said. “We don’t want the Russian language. This will wipe out our language. So we are here to protect it.”

In fact, after officially taking office as Ukraine's fourth president, Yanukovich said he would not make Russian a second state language. It was a big move, because he had actually used it as a campaign slogan and thus risks losing a large part of his support. Some observers have suggested that, because he is now in office, he does not want to risk irritating the nationalistic Western part of the country.

However, with the likes of Irina Farion willing to aggressively impose their political views on young children, Yanukovich may find it impossible to unite a nation dominated by nationalist ideology.

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Ric March 17, 2010, 23:30
0

March 17, 2010, 21:56, bassplyr98 wrote > This happens in the US all the time, hard core right or left wingers always try to get the childrens ear when they get an opportunity. I took my soon to see a train exhibition here when he was 4. Mixed in with all the other exhibits, was an anti-abortion display in a tent. The man at the exhibit started to immediately show my four year old a model of the human reproductive system etc. This literally happened in about 15 seconds, as he was only slightly ahead of me. > Extremism, in any form, is the biggest problem the world faces today I agree. Let's not have another Franz Ferdinand/WWI incident. I enjoy a Chicken Burrito and don't mind the Spanish language uttered as it's being made. Ditto with Vietnamese cuisine, etc. As long as keep our PERSPECTIVE in the scheme of things... ... there's room for individualities & nationalism. The underlying issue in all this mess, is respect. Ric.

Ric March 17, 2010, 22:38
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Note doubt this article is sponsored by a RUSSIAN web site to stir some 'agitation'. Nevertheless, we have a similar situation here in America, where Spanish is creeping into the American culture. All I can say is... this is a mole hill attempting to be a mountain of an issue. Beyond that... Ukraine has every Right to preserve if not enhance its culture; and that includes preserving its language. Imagine if American came rolling into the Ukraine culture, pushing McDonalds & Walmarts everywhere. Many French are horrified by the anglo-fication of their language. I sympathize with them. Ukraine should be concerned with being absorbed by Russia. Who wants another Belarus? I'm all in favor of preserving Ukrainian names, etc. Albeit it should be enforced in a gentle way. As for stirring up your readers with this trivia? ... I find it typical, as an American viewing Russians: they tend to be arrogant with skewed logic & priorities. I have a brother like that. We call 'em 'Tea Baggers' via the infamous 'Tea Party' in America: an ultra-Rightwing splinter group. Much a do about NOTHING. Again, the main issue is the preservation of the Ukrainian culture in an amicable way. Period.

bassplyr98 March 17, 2010, 21:56
0

This happens in the US all the time, hard core right or left wingers always try to get the childrens ear when they get an opportunity. I took my soon to see a train exhibition here when he was 4. Mixed in with all the other exhibits, was an anti-abortion display in a tent. The man at the exhibit started to immediately show my four year old a model of the human reproductive system etc. This literally happened in about 15 seconds, as he was only slightly ahead of me. Extremism, in any form, is the biggest problem the world faces today