Day of Dignity and Freedom: Key facts about Ukraine's pivotal day
Photo: Ukraine celebrates the Day of Dignity and Freedom (Getty Images)
On November 21, Ukraine marks the Day of Dignity and Freedom. This date coincides with two pivotal events, which began nine years apart: the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity in 2013.
The Day of Dignity and Freedom is a national holiday established in November 2014 by a presidential decree. The purpose of this observance is to uphold the ideals of freedom and democracy in Ukraine and to honor the patriotism and courage of citizens who defended democratic values, human rights and freedoms, the national interests of the state, and its European choice.
The Orange Revolution
During the 2004 presidential election in Ukraine, protests erupted, eventually escalating into the Orange Revolution. Widespread election fraud during the vote and vote count stirred public outrage. On November 21, the Central Election Commission of Ukraine announced preliminary election results, declaring Viktor Yanukovych the winner in the second round. Supporters of opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko took to the streets on November 22. A subsequent repeat of the second round of voting resulted in Yushchenko's victory.
In November 2005, Yushchenko established a holiday — Freedom Day — but his successor, Yanukovych, abolished it in 2011.
Photo: The Orange Revolution (Getty Images)
The Revolution of Dignity
On November 21, 2013, Ukrainians began protesting in Kyiv's Maidan Nezalezhnosti following the government's decision to suspend preparations for signing the Association Agreement with the European Union. The number of participants grew each day. The protests remained peaceful until November 29, when authorities used force against demonstrators calling for the government's resignation and early parliamentary elections. On the night of November 30, a brutal crackdown on the protesters occurred. After that, the protests grew much larger.
Photo: The Revolution of Dignity (Getty Images)
The period from February 18 to 20 is considered the most tragic: clashes in central Kyiv, the burning of the Trade Union Building, and the sniper shooting of protesters (Heavenly Hundred Heroes). Following these events, then-President Yanukovych fled Ukraine. Early presidential elections were held, and Petro Poroshenko was elected president. In November 2014, Poroshenko issued a decree establishing the Day of Dignity and Freedom.
Sources: Wikipedia and the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory.
