Vidsich Explained

The сivic movement "Vidsich" (uk|Відсіч||Rebuff) is an active^[1] Ukrainian nonviolent social movement created in 2010 as a reaction to the policies of then President of Ukraine Victor Yanukovych and the "pro-Russian" tendencies associated with his administration. During his administration, Vidsich focused on protesting against Yanukovych’s increasing authoritarianism as well as the policies his government enacted. During Euromaidan, Vidsich became one of the movement’s leading groups.

As of 2022, Vidsich focuses on protecting human rights, civil liberties and constitutional freedoms. Since the Revolution of Dignity, the movement has also advocated for boycotts of Russian products and the promotion of Ukrainian culture.

Vidsich aims to unite activists who are convinced that people cannot be neutral with regard to the political and social situation in Ukraine. Vidsichs aim is in creating a strong national movement which can protect the interests of Ukrainians and Ukraine in general.

Founding

After Victor Yanukovich won the 2010 presidential elections, citizens who supported his opposition, including many who had previously taken part in protests and campaigns, decided to gather and discuss the likely changes to the social and political situation in Ukraine in light of the handover of power.

This conference took place in Kyiv on 20 February 2010. This date is considered to be the Vidsich founding date as the conference led to decisions in favour of further self-organization and activity, with participants sketching out the principles and directions for the future of the nascent movement. In attendance were participants of previous opposition movements ("Granite revolution", "Ukraine without Kuchma" movement, civic committee "Za pravdu!" ("For truth"), civic campaigns "Pora!" ("It's time"), etc.), and other opposition-supporting members of Ukrainian society.

Principles of the movement

• Nonviolence
• Absence of leaders
• Openness
• No party affiliation / Non-partisan
• Consensus decision-making
• Sacrificion
• Copyleft

Actions and protest campaigns

From the March 2010, the civic movement "Vidsich" took part in hundreds of events (mostly street actions, warning strikes, sit down strikes, public hearings, round tables) in many cities of Ukraine, made either by ourselves, either in cooperation with other organizations.

Examples include:

• "Campaign Against Tabachnyk" / “Anti-Tobacco Campaign” (uk|АнтиТабачна кампанія, Russian: АнтиТабачная кампания) – aimed to protect Ukrainian education and science from the decisions made by the Minister of Education and Science Dmytro Tabachnyk, who had generated controversy amongst pro-European Ukrainians by having a history of making anti-Ukrainian, chauvinistic, pro-Russian, xenophobic statements.^{[2] [3] [4]}
• The campaign "No to Police State" (uk|Ні поліцейській державі, Russian: Нет полицейскому государству) – demanded impartial investigation and worthy punishment of those, as well as an identification and prosecution of those guilty in the case of the student Ihor Indylo’s death,^[5] in other cases and against police abuse. The campaign also sought to protest against Yanukovych’s increasing authoritanism.^[6]
• A campaign against the “2450” bill, which would significantly decrease the freedom of peaceful assembly, and for protection of the right to peaceful protest.^{[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]} The campaign also held solidarity actions with the 2011-2013 Russian Anti-Putin protestors,^{[12] [13]} and Belarusian^{[14] [15] [16]} anti-Lukashenko protestors, who aimed for the right to peaceful assembly in their countries.
• The campaign "Start the work, stop the talk!" (uk|Займіться ділом, а не язиком!, Russian: Займитесь делом, а не языком!) – which sought to prevent the new legislation "On languages in Ukraine" #1015-3, "On the principles of the state language policy" #9073 and its modifications (main: Legislation on languages in Ukraine), which would have prioritised the Russian language in Ukraine over Ukrainian for the first time since 1991, instead of the two languages having previously been equal in status. Activists argued this would ignite a “language” conflict and reduce the status of the Ukrainian language in the public space and in the lives of Ukrainians.^[17]
  • The campaign "Revenge for division of Ukraine" aimed at preventing the adoption of the Law "On the Principles of State Language Policy" No. 9073 and at the elimination of negative effects of the Law "On the Principles of State Language Policy" No. 5029-VI. It consisted of bringing down the poll numbers of the political parties and MPs who voted for this law and other persons who contributed to the adoption of this law.^[18]
• The campaign "Against degradation of education" (uk|Проти деградації освіти, Russian: Против деградации образования) - sought to prevent the adoption of the Bill “On Higher Education”" (#7486-1, #9655 and else), which would have lowered the civil liberties of students, as well as reducing their social protection. Vidsich also argued the law allowed for corruption in educational facilities.^{[19] [20] [21]}
  • Advocacy of External independent testing (EIT) – against the adoption of draft laws No. 1187 and No. 2060а minimizing the significance and function of EIT.^[22]
• The organisation of protests against the new Tax Code, which forced the government to cancel its immediate adoption (it was adopted later with revisions) as well as refuse the idea of swift embranchment of the Housing, Labour, and Pension Codes.
• Calling for action against censorship and for freedom of speech, which became a particularly divisive issue during Yanukovych’s presidency. In particular – against frequency lowering for channels "5" and "TVi", "STB", and for commemorating the memory of dead journalists since Ukrainian independence.^[23]
• Campaign for commemoration of the famine genocide Holodomor victims of 1932–1933, promotion of rename the toponyms, which cares the names of organizers and executors of genocide.
• Campaign "Do not buy Russian goods!" is a campaign to boycott Russian goods after the trade export blockade against Ukraine by Russia, started in August 2013;^{[24] [25] [26]} later – in response to the military invasion of Russia in Ukraine, started in March 2014.^[27]
  • Campaign "Boycott Russian Films". At the end of September 2014 the campaign on Russian cinema boycott started spreading. Particularly it is about boycott of films and serials, produced in Russia and broadcast on Ukrainian television and shown in the cinemas – first of all those, in which Russian security structures are popularized or signs of ukrainophobia are present. Activists also called to boycott Russian actors and directors, who supported Vladimir Putin's policy concerning warfare in Ukraine in 2014.^[28] During September activists conducted several monitorings on presence of Russian content in the Ukrainian television.^{[29] [30] [31] [32] [33]}
• Participation in "Euromaidan", including the organization of student strikes^{[34] [35] [36] [37]} and campaign of boycott Party of Regions.^[38] During Euromaidan "Vidsich" in Kyiv formed a sotnia joined to Self-Defense of the Maidan, where received the 16th number.^[39]
• Events organized for raising funds,^[40] gathering of products,^{[41] [42]} equipment etc. for Ukrainian military forces (particularly – for 95th OAMBr^{[43] [44]}) that are fighting in the east of Ukraine.^{[45] [46]} Also – demand actions for: returning control of eastern Ukraine and Crimea;^[47] setting requirements to the Ukrainian government to provide all necessary items and services for Ukrainian military forces;^{[48] [49] [50]}
• "Stop "Ze" Revanch" campaign against Volodymyr Zelensky, the candidate on 2019 Ukrainian presidential election. Consisted mainly of mass spreading of leaflets, stickers and other materials with information criticising the candidate.^{[51] [52] [53]}
• "Red Lines" campaign. Activists drew some "red lines" for the new Ukrainian government (in particular for president, Parliament and executive branch) which it should not cross. In case the government do cross those lines, activists promise it will face an immediate resistance and protests from the civil society. Those "red" lines are divided into six topics: Ukrainization, European-Atlantic integration, decommunization, Armed Forces, relations with Russia, territorial structure and integrity. Any steps to revert or sabotage Ukrainization, European-Atlantic integration, decommunization or reforms in Armed Forces, to restore good relations with Russia, to rearrange territorial structure or to violate territorial integrity will be considered as crossing the red lines. The campaign started with a performance near the building of the Office of the President of Ukraine on 4 July 2019.^{[54] [55]} From that moment activists are reporting about their spreading of leaflets about red lines,^{[56] [57] [58]} and also about spreading leaflets against the TV presenter and, at the moment, parliamentary candidate in electoral district 94 from the party Servant of the People Oleksandr Dubinsky, who was claimed by activists to have crossed the red lines long ago.^[59] Later, Vidsich also started spreading leaflets against other parliamentary candidates, who in their opinion have crossed the red lines: Maksim Lutsky, candidate in electoral district 222 from Opposition Platform – For Life;^[60] Vitaly Zhuravsky, self-nominated candidate from electoral district 66;^{[61] [62]} Serhiy Leshchenko, self-nominated candidate from electoral district 220^{[63] [64] [65]} and Opposition Platform – For Life in general.^[66]

Also, CM "Vidsich" was an organizer or a participant in actions: of solidarity actions with Gorky park defenders; against Black Sea fleet of Russian Federation being on Ukraine's territory; for defending Ukrainian translations of the foreign movies; against persecution of historians and history rewriting; for promotions of state symbols; "Easter together" (students of the south and east of Ukraine staying in the families of their age-mates in the city of Lviv); Against museum throw-away from Lavra; "Ukrainian broadcast – on air!"; against the Mazepa street renaming; in memory of 66 anniversary of the Crimean Tatars deportation; "Ruined Khreshchatyk – we remember!"; "Doughnuts for Donetsk region people" (uk|Пампухи для донеччан); collection of signatures for restoration of traffic of some suburban trains, and actions against the made-up ticket deficit in cash desks of Ukrzaliznytsya (Ukrainian railroads); students "arms" demonstration; creative action of protest against "tour" bill #8757 and other activities.

Notable activists

• Mykhaylo Svystovych
• Kateryna Chepura
• Yulia Mykytenko

See also

• Solidarity (Polish trade union)
• Otpor!
• Pora!

External links

• Official site of movement "Vidsich" (Ukrainian).
• Facebook profile
• Facebook group
• Twitter thread
• LiveJournal
• YouTube channel
• Photo gallery on BBC
• Russia, hands off Ukraine. Official group of campaign "Do not buy Russian!" on Facebook in English

Notes and References

1. At parliament an action in support of the Law on language, Hromadske.TV (28 February 2019)
2. http://ukrafoto.com/reportages.php?id=4026&photo=72972&lng=ukraine Акція-флешмоб "День боротьби з Табачником і нацизмом!" (фото)
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0hkCw7xQCg&feature=colike Нагадаємо у День Незалежності, кому вона кісткою в горлі
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz80n9Qd6TA "З Табачника реформ, як з козла молока!"
5. Web site: Розібратися як помирав студент Індило (відео) - Стежимо за справою про смерть Індила в міліції - Справи "Свідомо" - Бути громадянином - www.svidomo.org. svidomo.org. 18 May 2017. 7 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120407032615/http://www.svidomo.org/defend_article/5467. dead.
6. Web site: Деякі факти міліцейського свавілля за 2011 рік. https://archive.today/20120716201640/http://vidsich.org.ua/archives/908. dead. 16 July 2012. 18 May 2017.
7. Web site: Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Georgia Moldova Ukraine . Protests against plans to limit civil liberties in Ukraine . Easternpartnership.org . 15 June 2010 . 24 January 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120322215104/http://www.easternpartnership.org/daily-news/2010-06-15/protests-against-plans-limit-civil-liberties-ukraine . 22 March 2012.
8. Web site: Ukraine's Parliament may restrict the right to hold meetings . Helsinki.org.ua . 17 May 2010 . 24 January 2012.
9. Web site: Всеукраїнська ініціатива "За мирний протест!". 18 May 2017.
10. http://tyzhden.ua/News/45992 На Майдані у Києві утворили "резервацію"
11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-85gFaSAr0 ГР "Відсіч" протестує проти законопроекту 2450
12. Web site: Сьогодні біля посольства Російської Федерації пройшла акція протесту і солідарності . 11 March 2012 . 13 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180813075757/http://maidan.org.ua/static/news/2011/1275308453.html . dead .
13. Web site: "Лента за лентою. Україно, мовчи!" (фото, відео). 18 May 2017.
14. http://vidsich.org.ua/archives/508 20-го липня біля білоруської амбасади українці провели акцію на підтримку білоруського народу
15. http://24tv.ua/home/showSingleNews.do?ukrayintsi_pid_biloruskim_posolstvom_pidtrimali_opozitsiyu&objectId=115976 Українці під білоруським посольством підтримали опозицію
16. http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/24272521.html Донецька влада відрізала струм прихильникам білоруської опозиції
17. Web site: Protest against draft law on languages held in Kyiv . Photo.ukrinform.ua . 24 January 2012 . 28 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200728215819/http://photo.ukrinform.ua/eng/current/photo.php?id=349667 . dead .
18. [:uk:Помста за розкол країни|Помста за розкол країни]
19. Web site: The students were protesting against the degradation of education . Yellowpage.in.ua . 24 January 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120322215105/http://yellowpage.in.ua/en/archives/30362 . 22 March 2012.
20. Web site: The draft law on education actively promoted by the government will make colleges and universities completely dependent on the Education Ministry . Ukrainian Week . 24 January 2012.
21. Web site: Lviv students protest against educational policy . Photo.ukrinform.ua . 24 January 2012 . 28 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200728215817/http://photo.ukrinform.ua/eng/current/photo.php?id=385204 . dead .
22. Web site: "Відсіч" розпочала кампанію на захист ЗНО проти освітніх ініціатив регіоналів та комуністів (ФОТО, ВІДЕО) . Maidan . 6 June 2013.
23. Web site: Protest action held outside Kyiv administrative court of appeals . Photo.ukrinform.ua . 24 January 2012 .
24. http://tyzhden.ua/News/87066 У соцмережах українців закликають бойкотувати російські товари
25. http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/25083290.html Януковича закликали не вважати Росію дружньою державою
26. http://maidanua.org/2013/08/pokuptsyam-rozdayut-lystivky-iz-zaklykom-ne-kupuvaty-rosiijski-tovary/ Покупцям роздають листівки із закликом не купувати російські товари
27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeyxE3hJ61o&feature=c4-overview&list=UUXoJ8kY9zpLBEz-8saaT3ew Українці захищаються від росіян бойкотом їх товарів
28. http://mkrf.ru/press-tsentr/novosti/ministerstvo/deyateli-kultury-rossii-v-podderzhku-pozitsii-prezidenta-po-ukraine-i-krymu Деятели культуры России — в поддержку позиции Президента по Украине и Крыму
29. http://www.radiosvoboda.org/media/video/26566903.html "Не пустимо в хату російську вату" — театралізована акція під Держкіно
30. http://zaxid.net/news/showNews.do?v_ukrayini_ogolosheno_boykot_rosiyskogo_kino&objectId=1323286 В Україні оголошено "Бойкот російського кіно"
31. http://tvoemisto.tv/news/ukrainskyy_kanal_pokazuie_v_den_75_godyn_rosiyskyh_peredach_66291.html Українські канали показують у день по 7,5 годин російських передач
32. http://vesti-ua.net/novosti/obschestvo/9886-aktivisty-nashli-predateley-sredi-ukrainskih-telekanalov.html Активисты нашли предателей среди украинских телеканалов
33. http://espreso.tv/news/2014/09/30/sytuaciya_z_kilkistyu_rosiyskoho_kontentu_na_ukrayinskykh_ekranakh_pohirshylasya____doslidzhennya Кількість російського контенту на українських екранах збільшується, – дослідження
34. http://blogs.korrespondent.net/pro_users/blog/darynaenglish/a126857 Блокування університетів: як воно відбувається і до чого приводить?
35. http://www.newsru.ua/ukraine/26nov2013/podderjala.html Українські студенти підтримали Євромайдан. У Києві та регіонах – страйки
36. http://gazeta.dt.ua/EDUCATION/studentskiy-yevromaydan-krov-i-grim-_.html Студентський Євромайдан: КРОВ і ГРІМ
37. http://www.day.kiev.ua/uk/news/111213-aktivisti-zaklikayut-studentiv-zapisuvatis-do-studentskoyi-sotni Активісти закликають студентів записуватись до "Студентської сотні"
38. http://nikorupciji.org/2014/02/03/aktyvisty-evromajdanu-vchora-piketuvaly-epitsentr-na-voskresentsi-foto/ Активісти Євромайдану вчора пікетували "Епіцентр" на Воскресенці. ФОТО
39. http://texty.org.ua/pg/article/editorial/read/50989/Na_tretij_barykadi_Jak_tenditna_divchyna_keruje На третій барикаді. Як тендітна дівчина керує "Нічною вартою" (спецпроект Механізм Майдану)
40. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/posts/735081019892653
41. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/posts/724967517570670
42. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/posts/728294173904671
43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4Z9k3WPZwI Акція на підтримку 95-ої Житомирської аеромобільної бригади
44. http://www.1.zt.ua/news/rizne/aktivisti-merzli-zaradi-biytsiv-95-brigadi-foto.html Активісти мерзли заради бійців 95-ї бригади. ФОТО
45. http://4army.com.ua/volunteer/vidsich/ Vidsich
46. http://www.svaboda.org/content/article/26528931.html Славянск вяртаецца да нармальнага жыцьця
47. http://24tv.ua/home/showSingleNews.do?aktivisti_stvorili_mapu_vtrat_ukrayini&objectId=438083 Активісти створили мапу втрат України
48. http://www.unn.com.ua/uk/news/1352150-pid-ap-zhinki-vimagali-zabezpechiti-viyskovikh-usim-neobkhidnim-dopovneno-foto Під АП жінки вимагали забезпечити військових усім необхідним (Доповнено фото)
49. http://ukr.lb.ua/news/2014/06/07/269169_militsiya_pomeshala_zhenshchinam_provesti.html Міліція завадила жінкам провести біля ВР пікет на підтримку бійців АТО
50. http://sprotiv.org/47743#.U5TLyih4BwF Міліція та самооборона розігнали демонстрацію руху Відсіч під Радою. 2 фото
51. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/posts/2184559851611422
52. https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-elections/2675895-policia-vidpustila-aktivista-akij-rozdavav-listivki-z-informaciu-pro-zelenskogo.html Поліція відпустила активіста, який роздавав листівки з інформацією про Зеленського
53. https://24tv.ua/poroshenko_na_stadioni_i_zelenskiy_v_onlayni_golovne_pro_debati_na_olimpiyskomu_14_kvitnya_n1140772 Порошенко на стадіоні і Зеленський в онлайні: головне про дебати на "Олімпійському" 14 квітня
54. Web site: "Червоних ліній" є шість": активісти рушили ходою від Банкової до урядового кварталу — яка мета. "There are six red lines": activists went from Bankova to the Government district. 4 July 2019. 5 Kanal. 29 July 2019.
55. Web site: В урядовому кварталі акція "Не дозволь їм перетнути червоні лінії", учасники оголосили вимоги (фото). In the Government district the action "Do not let them cross the red lines", participants announced their demands. Pyrlik. Grygoriy. 4 July 2019. Hromadske Radio. https://web.archive.org/web/20190711203622/https://hromadske.radio/news/2019/07/04/v-uryadovomu-kvartali-akciya-ne-dozvol-yim-peretnuty-chervoni-liniyi-uchasnyky-ogolosyly-vymogy-foto. 11 July 2019. live. 29 July 2019.
56. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/posts/2335585426508863 Vidsich in Facebook
57. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/posts/2336580679742671 Vidsich in Facebook
58. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/photos/a.226830084051085/2338880562846016/ Vidsich in Facebook
59. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/posts/2336986503035422 Vidsich in Facebook
60. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/posts/2352517348149004 Vidsich in Facebook
61. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/videos/2315087718806784/V idsich in Facebook
62. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/posts/2355580494509356 Vidsich in Facebook
63. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/posts/2355204877880251 Vidsich in Facebook
64. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/posts/2354373961296676 Vidsich in Facebook
65. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/posts/2356001181133954 Vidsich in Facebook
66. https://www.facebook.com/vidsich/posts/2362661667134572 Vidsich in Facebook