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 Revolution

I think one of the reasons I've resisted writing and blogging about what's happening in Ukraine is that it is an overwhelming subject.  Unless you've been following my Facebook feeds then you might not even be aware of the turmoil that has enveloped this country over the past 3 months.  As I understand it American media has been too busy with Justin Bieber to pay much attention to an epic struggle for freedom here in Ukraine.  One political columnist put it this way: "Ukraine gained it's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 almost by accident; now they are having to fight for it."  

A rough time-line goes like this: Near the end of November Ukraine's President was purportedly close to signing an Association Agreement with the European Union which would strengthen trade-ties between the two entities and pave the way for further integration down the road.  At the last minute, the President rejected the agreement much to the dismay of many Ukrainians, particularly the university crowd who began protesting in the streets.  Protesting in the streets is kind of a "thing" in Ukraine; it's not unusual at all.  But the last night of November, authorities did something crazy: someone ordered brutal attacks in an effort to dispel the protesters.  That order did not have the desired effect: the next day more than 300,000 Ukrainians took to the streets.  The weekend crowds swelled to more than a million!  Authorities again used lethal force in early December and then in mid-December a series of terribly repressive laws were rammed through Parliament that outlawed the protests.  

The "movement" has long since been about something more than integration with the EU or about the whims of university students.  Since that bloody night in November it has been about Ukraine's desire to be free from a mafia-like government.  In January it seemed like the tide was turning towards the people.  The Prime Minister resigned; at least some of the repressive new laws were overturned.  But this spiritual warfare.  In the heavenlies a battle is raging and on the ground it is being manifest in loss of life, injuries, and missing persons.  At least 6 people are dead and 30 or more are missing, hundreds have been arrested (many taken forcibly from hospitals where they sought help) and thousands have been injured.  The country is split by language, history, barricades in the streets and party-loyalties.  And still... God is on His throne.  Keep praying for Ukraine.

This coming Monday marks a government mandated deadline for protesters to vacate some structures that have been occupied for several weeks.  There's no firm indication yet that they will give-in to those demands.  Most, if not all, the previously detained protesters have been released from captivity, but it appears that their "charges" are still on the books...that's not Amnesty...that's Blackmail.

And... I'm tentatively visiting Maidan, the epicenter of this struggle, next Saturday.  Pray for Ukraine!

Here's a great online article from The Washington Post about what's happening in Ukraine, click here.