Yulia Tymoshenko’s Action Plan

I congratulate the great Ukrainian family on the 19th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Glory to Ukraine!

Nineteen years ago we had repressive law enforcement, and no independent media or internet to find out what was going on in the country. But 19 years ago every Ukrainian knew that great change was inevitable, and that a long-awaited time was approaching. People sensed that our country was becoming free, and that we were gaining the right to independently build our own country.

We held our breath when the now famous words were heard in parliament: "The Verkhovna Rada solemnly proclaims Ukraine’s Independence and the creation of an independent Ukrainian state – Ukraine". This was a defining moment in history. A large Ukrainian flag was brought into the Verkhovna Rada – a symbol of the strengthening of our will.

We have gathered here today in a holy and grand place. Because there is something special here by Taras Shevchenko’s monument - an energy that forces you to live, act and do what is right. I know people who spoke Ukrainian here for the first time, who felt that they were Ukrainian – here by this very monument. Older generations probably remember how during Soviet times it was forbidden for groups to gather in Shevchenko Park so that a national rebellion wouldn’t be born. At that time, before Ukraine gained its independence, there were more KGB officers here than patriots in embroidered shirts...

And unfortunately, today, those bad old traditions are returning: before we gathered here the SBU inspected every corner and is now photographing this square by sector. But you came and aren’t hiding your faces. You came here to celebrate Ukraine’s Independence Day to express clearly your wish: Ukraine exists, and no one will ever destroy its independence. Your courage will inspire millions of people who think that coming out to a square means lost work, lost business, lost calm or freedom. But can there be calm at a time like this? Today we must once against stand in support of Ukraine.

Dear friends!

It’s been 19 years since Ukrainians gained their freedom. Let’s honestly ask ourselves: in these 19 years, when the Lord gave us a clean slate – the opportunity to build society, write new laws, increase our freedoms – did we, Ukrainians, take advantage of God’s gift?

Much has been accomplished, but...during the referendum on 1 December 1991, 90% of people said "yes" to Ukraine’s independence. Today, sociologists suggest that only 51% want to see their country free, who don’t want slavery and serfdom, who want to take their rightful place in the European community. How did we lose those percentages? What happened to those 40% of people who believed in Ukraine’s independence? Why in 1991 were only 8% vote against, while today that figure is up to 25% according to sociologists? The number of people who want to see our country not free and beautiful, but part of the next empire, has tripled. They mistakenly think that this prison will be sweet and carefree.

This change in attitude is condemnation of all Ukrainian presidents, governments, political forces and members of leading Ukrainian elites. If we don’t reach conclusions from this, don’t begin effectively building the state, we will be ashamed to watch as Ukrainian citizens continue to lose their love for Ukraine.

Ukraine has lost its independence many times during its more than one thousand year history. At times it wasn’t lost, but handed over into the wrong hands - in the early Middle Ages, during the times of the Kozaks, and the Central Rada. Unfortunately, we almost always lost our independence on our own due to the inability of the national elite to come to an understanding and find a common way. The Poliany tribes against the Derevliany, Kyiv principality against the Chernihiv principality, registered Kozaks against non-registered, Directorate against the Hetmanate, one patriot against another….For some reason we have always fought against ourselves and because of this lost what it dearest – our statehood.

In ancient times, invaders always took advantage of civil discord among Ukrainians. The same is happening now, because although this government calls itself Ukrainian, it inherently is not.

According to the media, Yanukovych gave orders for there to be 20 salutes honoring Independence Day – each one dedicated to the new president’s main "achievements" during his first six months in office. The first and most powerful salute represents the gradual and planned loss of everything Ukrainian: language, history, culture, traditions, faith, unity and heroes. They are burning our roots as a people and nation, and without this it’s impossible to cultivate the great Ukrainian family tree.

The second salute from the president represents that beginning of the end of freedom – freedom to speak, freedom to provide society with true information, freedom of faith, freedom of establishment, freedom to gather in peaceful protest, freedom to live in a country and serve nobody but the Lord. Instead of freedom there is slavery, instead of faith there is fear.

Everyone is asking, why on the 19th anniversary were there 20 and not 19 salutes? Because the twentieth is little bit extra to everyone who brought Yanukovych to power: pseudo nationalists-patriots, oligarchs, those who voted "against all", pseudo messiahs, pseudo hetmans, hired reporters and town criers, Ukraine haters. The twentieth salute is their reward for what Yanukovych has done and plans to do by disparaging Ukraine.

What tasks is the new president setting? To change the Constitution and extend his term in office from 5 to 7 years. He plans to move the 2012 parliamentary elections to 2015 and he has instructed the Constitutional Court to restore Kuchma’s Constitution. There is a separate plan for the people, who naively believed in the good king from the east: the poor will help the rich.

Why the need for endless power? The goal is "modest" – to privatize all of Ukraine, starting with the state monopolies, and create joint enterprises with Russia in which the president has a private stake.

Yanukovych’s rule could end in the loss of Ukraine’s economic, energy and political importance in the world. The president of Ukraine is dissolving his country in the interest of others, right before the eyes of its 46 million citizens.

Yanukovych’s one indisputable achievement is that in six months he was able to build a powerful and singular rule – there is no longer balance or reasonable separation of power. The three branches of government – judicial, legislative and executive – have merged into an uncontrollable trunk, or rather a bat that the president swings. Next on the agenda is to put local government under his full control, as was done in Kyiv. This means an end to the development of democratic processes in our state.

Why does Yanukovych need strong rule today? So that, like a monkey with a bomb, he can constantly sow fear among the people and his imprisoned vassals, and take from the state’s all that is left. So that he can upset the unity, calm and stability in our country. I believe that a strong government must have honor and serve recognized values. Then a strong leadership makes sense, but only if it can be controlled and held accountable. Today’s strong leadership is a corrupt political regime with a collection of democratic words read from a teleprompter.

And now that the six-month honeymoon of the new government is over, it turns out that the bees were fake and the honey was counterfeit. But a significant part of society didn’t fall for this sham. In April, 41% of citizens supported and believe in Yanukovych. In early fall, only half remain.

Ukrainians are different from the other post-soviet peoples in that they can believe in and support a leader, but they won’t tolerate deception, fraud, attacks on freedom and double standards for very long.

Our hope today is that the people will finally figure out the essence of the new government and provide their first assessment during the local elections. According to preliminary figures, 61.5% of people believe there is more corruption today, more than 50% say that democracy is being restricted, the economy is failing, quality of life is deteriorating rapidly, and social welfare is being multiplied by zero.

If you read articles written by people who are fans of Ukraine, if you read comments by concerned citizens, you’ll see that we’re all very good at making a diagnosis. But we must also draw up a cure. The main goal of today’s gathering is to figure out how to stop this vicious circle of degradation. I propose a 15 point action plan that can be supplemented in open public discussion.


1. This, in my opinion, is crucial – to replace despair, fear, aggression and helplessness with strong faith and organized resistance. We need to stop being outraged over actions by Yanukovych and his circle against freedom, against Ukraine, against the interests of the people. We need to stop being shocked by the new president’s corrupt appetite for state property. It’s pointless wasting so much effort on such emotions.

Did we really expect anything different? Did we think that a democrat and champion of Ukraine and people’s rights had come to power? Did we expect something and are now disappointed? That’s why there’s no sense criticizing and complaining. Let’s agree that what they are taking from Ukraine - its oil and gas shelves, land for foreign fleets, gas transport system, factories, power plants, resources, Mezhyhirya and much more – we will return to the state immediately after they are replaced. They will soon be held accountable by the people for this mess. This is not the time for nonsense – we need consolidation, a clear plan, action, faith and victory.


2. All politicians and members of the elite must put an end to their talk or even hints of secession by Halychyna, Donbas, Crimea, Kharkiv or any other territory. They must stop thinking about building a comfortable piece of Ukraine for themselves. I can understand that in the hearts of those who love Ukraine there is the urge to act and defend at least a part of Ukraine from the new president’s anti-Ukrainian policy...but this can’t be reason to divide our land and create a separate "paradise" for everyone – European or soviet Ukraine.

Enough! Ukraine is a single, united, unified and indivisible state from Luhansk to Zakarpattia, from Chernihiv to Crimea, from east to west. This is our fundamental national interest.


3. We must stop pitting one group against another. Stop blaming Ukrainians from Donetsk, Kharkiv or Crimea for voting for Yanukovych, or people from western Ukraine who once voted for Yushchenko. There are not responsible for what is going on in the country right now – responsible are the three corrupt recent presidents and their insatiable associates, weak elites, clans with their media and money. Let’s not look for enemies among the people, try to figure out who is uneducated, ignorant and irresponsible. Let’s not divide Ukraine into Ukrainian and Russian Ukraine.

In the east, just as in the west, everyone is aghast by the injustice, domination of corrupt bureaucracy, unjustified increase in tariffs, from the bleeding of economic and spiritual life. In the east, west, north and south, businesses are going bankrupt from tax extortion and bribery by tsarist publicans. They prepared one Tax Code, with a Gestapo nature, for all businesses.

We’re all one Ukraine, one people. Random people in power are pitting people from Donetsk against those from Lviv, Luhansk against Volyn, and so forth, and while they fight they’re taking the good that’s left. So Ukrainians from Donetsk, Crimea, Luhansk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv and other parts of our land – love one another, unite and remove from power all those who make our life difficult, regardless of which part of Ukraine allowed the latest mistake.


4. Together we fought for the unity of the patriotic and democratic political forces and this was correct. But what prevented us from uniting at the moment when we needed to defend Ukraine from the Kharkiv agreements? What preventing us from rallying together when leading figures created the National Committee to Defend Ukraine and urged all patriots, democrats and leaders to sit at a round table, without party flags, without party names and without personal leadership? To come together and serve Ukraine rather than their personal ambitions? I’ll tell you what got in the way: pride, envy, the battle for two percentages in the next parliamentary elections instead of one. They dreamed simply of destroying a political rival.

It’s time to stop talking about uniting the democrats. This is not the time for idle talk. Those who wanted to unite have already done so. Those who wanted to find wisdom have found it. The remaining discord in the democratic camp has been well paid for by Yanukovych’s people. Dirty money is building up all the new "third parties". They’re being financed, given television channels, being presented as constructive opposition, being given state awards "For Service". Discord among the democrats has been well paid for years to come.

And so everyone who is pro Ukraine, we must fight together.


5. It is important to learn from your mistakes. If we don’t clean up our teams, put an end to migrant workers in politics, if we yet again allow into parliament the weak and political "rats" hungry for power and money, we will never train an army that can uphold true values and ideals.

If we were unable, for one reason or another, to weed out the morally disabled members of our team, then today they’re being weeded out on their own. Tests are cleaning our ranks of those who came to power to make money back during the Orange Revolution.

We must give Ukraine a strong team that has the capacity to act when there is trouble and joy, while in power and opposition.

After 19 years, Ukraine still does not have classical ideology-based political parties - they are only in the process of being formed. But we do have a rather mature civil society. I am proud that our youth has spoken out against Tabachnyk and his hatred of everything Ukrainian. I am proud of journalists that organized the anti-censorship movement. They are fighting and those who boldly declared their position are winning.


6. We need to build a system of cooperation between civil society and the opposition. We must find ways to work together, listen to and understand one another, and coordinate our work.


It’s good that everyone game out to celebrate Independence Day in Shevchenko Park with Ukrainian flags. Point 7. of our join action plan is to stop dividing the Ukrainian community by multi-colored party flags and creative party symbols. We need to unite around our eternal values and symbols – the Ukrainian flag, the Trident and the national anthem.

I propose starting a movement in Ukraine of all those who share our values and ideas – the "Two Colors" movement – yellow and blue. This is a small strip of our flag that serves as a symbol of our united and dedicated struggle for Ukraine. Yellow and blue ribbons, stickers, backgrounds for mobile phones, computers, flags at your work desk, on your cars and homes – this will be a way to identify those who are appose attacks against freedom and our sovereignty.

Today even children, who have grown tired of the political discord, are wearing yellow and blue scarves, drawing yellow and blue ribbons on their notebooks. This movement will allow us to recognize one another.


And now, most importantly – the people of Ukraine have thrice made a futile attempt to unite around presidents that blew off their historically important time in office. These failed attempts resulted in political apathy, disenchantment, and exhaustion from false hope. Therefore, Point 8 – We must understand that we have to stop always uniting around false messiahs, hetmans and godfathers. You can’t vote for a presidential candidate based on slogans from his commercials and leaflets that then aren’t reflected in the new laws.

I want us to replace this hopeless tradition and propose uniting society around a DESIGN FOR A NEW COUNTRY, which we must develop together.

Even a barn is not built without a design. There’s isn’t a building or business where every detail is carefully designed and planned. That’s why I propose on the 19th year of independence to begin a GENERAL PLAN that will include a NEW CONSTITUTION and package of key fundamental laws.

Why am I mentioning a new Constitution? Because in Ukraine, people’s lives, their freedom and security doesn’t depend on a properly constructed state system, smart rules and regulations, but on the level of greed, incompetence and irresponsibility of the last three presidents. And if the current Constitution can give birth to authoritarian regimes, dictators and corrupt officials this means that the Constitution doesn’t work. If the Constitution outlines rights and freedoms but they’re not respected, this means the Constitution doesn’t work.

There are some who believe the current Ukrainian Constitution is good and better than any other in the world in terms of securing human rights and freedoms, it’s just not being implemented. They suggest finding good politicians that will implement it. I believe this is a utopian view because if there is an opportunity for the president or even lowest ranking official to not respect the Constitution, this means it doesn’t work and needs to be rewritten.

This legislative package "DESIGN FOR A NEW COUNTRY" won’t make sense if it’s developed by a group of PR experts or sent from the heavens by international think tanks leading up to the next elections.

This package of laws will make sense if it’s painstakingly developed by Ukrainian architects of a successful country and in close cooperation with civil society, and if the next convocation of parliament adopts it without changing even a comma or letter of what was agreed upon with society. This package of laws must have no populist elements – it must be based on rationality and effectiveness.

If we can bring this DESIGN FOR A NEW COUNTRY to a majority of Ukrainians, offer them a comprehensive and clear vision for their future, there is a strong chance that in the next parliamentary elections we will elect to the Verkhovna Rada more than three hundred deputies that along with adopting a NEW CONSTITUTION will send this random leadership into oblivion.

We’re starting to work on this, will go through all the steps, and before the next elections will try to unite society around a DESIGN FOR A NEW COUNTRY. There will be no masters and slaves, no oligarchs and disenfranchised workers. Our goal is freedom, solidarity and justice.


9. We need to build a system to counter the zombification of the people. The central television channels today are controlled by Yanukovych’s people. There is not a word of truth in what they report, only propaganda against our state aimed at deceiving the people. That’s why we need an independent national paper that will reach every home. The newspaper must counter the latest propaganda and serve to coordinate our actions.


10. We must support in any possible way the Committee to Defend Ukraine, which unites different parties and movements, non-partisan individuals that want to coordinate their actions and feel a sense of responsibility for Ukraine.


11. We all strive to protect the young democracy in Ukraine, to prevent fraudulent elections, the abolition of free speech and freedom in all its manifestations. We are taking great efforts to stop the major international corrupt scheme that is RosUkrEnergo. In this struggle we believe that states that have experienced hundreds of years of democracy have a special mission to support the birth of freedom in newly independent and sovereign countries. We are members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and made a commitment to build democracy and a market economy, and have this work monitored.

But our appeals to old western democracies and international institutions are being lost in double standards and backdoor geopolitical deals at Ukraine’s expense. The extension of the Black Sea Fleet on Ukrainian territory was declared an internal affair for Ukraine and Russia, the destruction of the judiciary wasn’t given a proper assessment by the Venice Commission in time, and is shamefacedly being called "legal reform".

They are once again killing honest journalists and crushing freedom. By the end of the year they plan to take away the remnant of Ukraine’s energy independence by creating joint ventures with Russia, contradicting Ukraine’s key national interests and those of many countries in the region. It’s strange to hear in response to all these destructive process that sacramental phrase – everything’s alright in Ukraine! The conclusion to be made from this is evident – in the struggle against anti-Ukrainian, criminal authoritarianism, we need to rely only on our own Ukrainian efforts because we are the only ones who need a state with resources and capacity that works for the sake of the people and our competitiveness in the world.

And while the maxim "he may be a bastard, but he’s a convenient bastard for us" is alive and well, there’s no need to rant about the struggle for and victory of democracy around the world. While Yanukovych gives away the nuclear industry, highly-enriched uranium, land for the Black Sea Fleet, our resources, gas transport system and everything else, the world will sing his praises and make him into a "perspective democratic", while Ukrainians are left on the sidelines of global development. That’s why I once again underscore that we must rely only on Ukrainians to oppose the regime.


12. The next component of our action plan is to bring together everyone who wants to work together. We need everyone who wants to know what contribution he or she can make for the common cause. We’re proposing a potential way to cooperate and ask that you offer your suggestions on how each of us can contribute.

And as for opposition to unfair tariffs, an increase in the retirement age and repressive Tax Code, I’d like to ask: when did we go from being fighters and soldiers to tillers? How did our people, unlike others, become afraid or too lazy to go out into the streets and voice their opposition to the government’s decisions that are aimed against the people?

On television they’re saying that only outcasts are going to rallies and singing hymns to one another because they have nothing else to do. Let’s take a look at public reaction in France. Throughout June there were protests against an increase in retirement age. Public sector workers, in response to a call by trade union, held a nationwide strike against increasing the retirement age from 60 to 62. More than a million people went on strike. Transport and schools were shut down. Postal, railway and airport workers joined the strike. Despite the fact that this stopped passenger traffic throughout Europe, the people stuck it out and defended their rights.

In June 2010 Italians protested the government’s plans to cut wages. On June 25, Italy’s largest trade unions organized a nationwide strike – civil servants refused to work for eight hours and those in the private sector went on strike for four hours. All regions of Italy took part in the strike.

There were student strikes and demonstrations against education reform in Germany in November 2009. Tens of thousands of young people took to the streets to point out the mistakes made by politicians as part of the Bologna process reforms. They also demanded that tuition fees be abolished and that they be given more rights when making decisions that affected their universities. In Berlin alone, 12,000 people protested. Mass protests were also held in Cologne, Munich and Hanover. To make sure they were heard, students blocked the main streets.

In late April, Portuguese trade unions announced a weeklong strike that essentially brought all railway, bus and ferry travel to a standstill. The postal workers followed suit. And for the first time in history, members of parliament went on strike, resulting in the cancellation of a plenary meeting. The strikers’ key demands were to freeze wages and not privatize state-owned companies (railway and postal system).

Only those who fight are worthy of freedom and a dignified life. Therefore, I propose that we remind Yanukovych of the people and on September 7 – the first day of the autumn session of parliament – gather to protest by the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv and by local government buildings in every oblast. Our goal is to prevent the unjustified increase in tariffs, increase in retirement age, aggressive Tax Code and terror against small business. We will demand the adoption of a law introducing a moratorium on increases in tariffs and the retirement age, a law on a simplified tax system, a law on the state’s right to gas that RosUkrEnergo is seizing.

And last but not least – Point 15. – local government elections will be held on October 31. We have weapons – ballots, our vote and opportunity to tell this government what we think about them. We know what schemes Yanukovych is planning: today they’re helping create numerous parties to confuse the people and take over local government. They introduced a majoritarian electoral system not so that the people know who their deputy is, but to provide every majoritarian district with administrative resources and "bags of money". Yanukovych plans on make these majoritarian deputies into a biomass that will vote as a team, no questions asked, and in doing so solve their business issues.

It’s important that we not allow the current government group into the heart of Ukraine, into local communities. This is a poison that’s then impossible to remove. Local councils pass decisions on increasing tariffs, allocating budget funds, distributing land. They will take what’s left from the communities. And so we must all vote in the local elections. But not a single vote must go to the Party of Regions or their political coalition satellites or majoritarians, even if they’re drowning you in money. Let’s build this shield that will protect local communities from an invasion of criminals.

It will be a difficult struggle. We need to prepare for long and hard work that has every chance of ending in victory. Victory means a European Ukraine that its citizens love.

I believe this is possible, and my faith never leaves me. You can see how today the government has identified the true opposition - those who they’re throwing in jail, discrediting, raiding and seizing their party offices. We will fight for every person that today has been repressed and throw behind bars, until they are released and their names are cleared.

I, as the person you voted for in the presidential elections, have the strength, will and inspiration to not retreat even a step. I’m not afraid of their jails and can psychologically withstand their dirty attempts to discredit me. I can forgive my "associates" from other democratic parties who to remove me from their electoral niche gladly surrendered Ukraine to Yanukovych and are ripping apart my name, in return for state awards, money and access to the media. I will endure this rat race. I will be with you as long as my heart beats.

We must win the right to call ourselves the "generation worthy of Ukraine". Today, by the monument to the Great Kobzar, we are beginning our new liberation movement.

And when we gather to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, we will have transformed some of our plans into reality.

So let’s get to work!

We must be strong!

Slava Ukrayini!