On this day, late in the evening, people came to Maidan Nezalezhnosti. They protested against President Yanukovych turning to Russia - while most Ukrainians want to join the European community.
Next day more people joined, students came.
Most Kyiv citizens did not actually understand that it was the beginning of the Revolution, at least until the BERKUT police engaged in violent dispersal of demonstrators on November 30, 2013.
What is EuroMaidan for Ukrainians today?
Why did EuroMaidan start?
it was an expected reaction of the society to the total corruption. Besides, refusal of Yanukovych to sign DCFTA Agreement with the EU was an additional trigger - people felt their future was stolen.
Has EuroMaidan achieved its aims?
The answer depends on what one regards as EuroMaidan aims. Mr. Poroshenko seems to sincerely believe the aim was to make him a new President. Yuliya Tymoshenko thought it was to release her from prison. Those aims were achieved. People believe EuroMaidan was to overcome corruption and to secure development of Ukraine and its prosperous future. Harsh decrease of household incomes suggests this failed to happen. Moreover, people wanted to see new faces in the politics - and Mr. Poroshenko, a founder of the party of regions, is nothing but a new face.
What did EuroMaidan bring to Ukraine?
For sure, it brought the sense of freedom. But Russian annexation of the Crimea and Kremlin's aggression in Donetsk and Luhansk regions made people concentrate on the country's survival - which was widely used by the corrupt official to cover their activities as "you do not criticize your government at the time of war".
What should be done to achieve the EuroMaidan aims?
1. Ban all the commies from the government. Old "nomenklatura" is always alive, and Russia is a friend for them.
2. Introduce instruments to block corruption, e.g. electronic government and document management system.
3. Build the future today - invest in education and long-term projects.
EuroMaidan wins when a sustainable society is built in Ukraine.
Today reforms are largely simulated while corruption flourishes.
