Vitaliy Portnikov: Political violence and the Yanukovych factor

What the Yanukovych regime really brought into the political and public life of our country is the culture of beatings, the culture of thugs, the culture of the impunity of the “titushky” (hired thugs — Ed.) who beat peaceful demonstrators when there were no legal pretexts to limit the protests. The beatings of activists. The beatings of journalists. According to numerous accounts, Yanukovych even beat up his associates in his own office. Perhaps he even kicked them. None of us liked it. Then there was the final act — the beating of students. And then Maidan. It seemed that society understood clearly that the beating of anyone is a manifestation of savagery, of baseness, of the absence of self-respect. It seemed that Ukrainians really wanted to join Europe not because there were more baubles and money there but because politicians in Europe do not engage in beatings.