Rally in Odessa: Afterword

March 17: I learned from the media that in the heart of Odessa, right on Deribasovskaya Street, people gathered to protest against the hike in transportation fares. At first I was very happy that people from Odessa have ceased to be silent and are starting to talk openly about their everyday problems. After reading further, I saw that the action was disrupted by the notorious Yevgeny Rezvushkinym [head of Odessa “Maidan Self Defense”] and some unmarked paramilitary units. The standard situation for the last year, it would seem. Not for nothing, because the junta had to carry out the massacre of May 2 to intimidate and silence the citizens of Odessa. And here is resistance – protest, in the heart of the city, and even class issues!

Everything would be fine if it were not for the organizers of the protest. It turns out they included the infamous Odessa provocateur Andrey Ischenko, who heads the union “Protection of Labor” [Захист праци] and the organization “Autonomous Support” [Автономного Опора].

Here it is necessary to elaborate. Andrey Ishchenko was for many years a member of the Ukrainian nationalist organization UNA-UNSO, until he was expelled for unknown reasons. Then he worked in the Office of Domestic Policy when Hurwitz was mayor of Odessa. He was an assistant to the famous nationalist Chaychuk. And then suddenly he turned around and joined the Organization of Marxists, and after that — the Left Opposition.

We share a certain period of cooperation with Andrey Ishchenko, which lasted about one and a half years, mostly at the request of Kiev comrades from Borotba who wanted to create a broad left front. But because of the constant intrigues, squabbles, unreasonable conflicts and countless sticks which he inserted into the wheels of the left and anti-fascist movement in Odessa — our cooperation ceased. Ischenko tried to quarrel with everyone. But in the end, he was left alone.

Then he decided to try his hand as a union organizer. Upon learning that the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company (UDP) had not paid wages for a long time, he found contacts among the workers and persuaded them to hold a strike. A good deal, it would seem! But because of his organizational skills (let’s call them that), the strike failed, and without conducting the necessary preparations, the workers not only have not received their salaries, they were simply dismissed.

It was a very severe blow to the flagging trade union movement. This action demoralized thousands of workers who now believe that a strike cannot solve their problems.

It is necessary to say that Andrey was a regular at the Odessa Euromaidan, and the Left Opposition, of which he is a member, officially supported the Kiev Maidan.

Now about Autonomous Support. This organization emerged from the fascist UNTP (Ukrainian National Labor Party). In Odessa, it never had much support and consisted of five student-nationalists from Vinnitsa, and two citizens of Odessa, who were the leaders of the organization. We are talking about Alexander Ogorodnikov, who became famous in the nationalist milieu after setting fire to the office of the Party of Regions, and Anatoly Chumakov. Prior to the Maidan, the organization gradually drifted to the left, and even acquired enemies among these fascists. They tried to participate in various social protests, and briefly even refused to use the Bandera black-and-red flag, which gave them the opportunity to attend a rally organized by the left. 

But events on the Maidan drew a very strong line and forced all political forces to define which side they were on – with the nationalists and the oligarchs, or supporters of friendship with Russia, Soviet patriots and the left.

Like the Left Opposition, Autonomous Support was one of the organizations that supported the Maidan and the armed coup in Kiev. After that, they supported the war in the East against the citizens of Donbass who disagree with the policies of Kiev. And not just support, but also took direct part in it. Alexander Ogorodnikov serves in the Crimea Battalion, which includes some mercenaries who fought on the side of ISIL [fascist-like organization funded by U.S. imperialism in Syria and Iraq].

Ogorodnikov and Chumakov were among the attackers at the House of Trade Unions on May 2.

Anatoly Chumakov wielding shield and stick at the Odessa House of Trade Unions, May 2, 2014.

As you can see, the problem of fare hikes is a concern even for those who from the beginning marched in the ranks of Euromaidan, who always opposed the resistance in Odessa, who blamed all problems on “Russian imperialism,” who foam at the mouth arguing that there is no fascism in Ukraine. Naturally, this is sarcasm. Because those who led the fascists on behalf of the junta, who faithfully served them, did not understand that they would never be allowed to protest against rising prices. After all, no owner will tolerate a dog that wants to bite him. A fascist, as we know, is a dog of the bourgeoisie.

It would seem that this should put an end to the myth that the Maidan was conceived to benefit the people. But should ordinary citizens who supported the Maidan come to the conclusion that they were simply betrayed? I think not.

This situation is remarkable for the fact that it clearly shows the contradictions that exist in the Odessa pro-Maidan movement. We can see that they are falling apart. That they are rotting from the inside. That the group of Rezvushkinym-Gordienko fights with the Right Sector, that different fragments of Euromaidan such as Autonomous Opir fight with Rezvushkinym …

Come on, quickly devour each other!

I do not know why I wasted an hour of my precious time on these characters, due to the fact that Odessans have been scrupulous, and paid attention to who is calling them out.

The real protests are yet to come!

Source

Translated by Greg Butterfield