““Together we are many” – 20 years later. What happened to the most recognizable frontmen of the Orange Revolution November 22, 09:29 Story Share: The first day of the Maidan, November 22, 2004 (Photo: Reuters / Glib Garanych) Author: Mykola Piddubny On November 22, 2004, a scene staged by opposition activists on Independence Square in Kyiv, turned into a center of public resistance. A unique for the modern world action, when tens of thousands”, — write on: ua.news
The first day of the Maidan, November 22, 2004 (Photo: Reuters / Glib Garanych)
On November 22, 2004, the scene mounted by opposition activists on Independence Square in Kyiv turned into a center of public resistance. The action, which is unique in the modern world, when tens of thousands of Ukrainians who disagree with the falsifications in the presidential elections staged a continuous demonstration, lasted until December 26, the day of the repeated second round. Representatives of various political forces united around Viktor Yushchenko, who became the next head of state. Many regulars of the Maidan stage became political stars and took important positions in the new government.
NV recalls how the fates of the 10 brightest speakers and “field commanders” of the Orange Revolution turned out.
Viktor Yushchenko
Who in 2004
The former prime minister went to the presidential elections as a self-nominated candidate. The color scheme of the campaign was dominated by orange, which gave the revolution its name. Conducted a large-scale campaign tour, which was interrupted in October due to poisoning. The 50-year-old candidate survived, but his face was permanently disfigured. In the first round of voting, according to the CEC, he won a minimal advantage over Viktor Yanukovych (39.9% against 39.2%).
Role in the Maidan
Leader. He resolutely declared the non-recognition of the voting results announced by the CEC. As a rule, his speech on the Maidan was the last in the evening, a kind of summary of the day and encouragement of the protesters. This is what Yushchenko said on December 8, 2004, when he came to Maidan with his wife and children.
At the same time, he conducted active negotiations with the current president Leonid Kuchma, representatives of the Verkhovna Rada and foreign mediators on the peaceful transformation of power and exit from the crisis. In the “third” round of the elections, he defeated Yanukovych, gaining 52% of the vote.
Said about the Orange Uprising:
“For my country, this is a revolution of freedom. She brought what the nation dreamed of having for millennia, centuries – and she got it. It is a big, exciting event for millions of people. She raised tens of millions of Ukrainians from their knees. Ukrainians began to breathe with two lungs.”
After the revolution
Under the third president, Ukraine received the status of a free country, rising in the rating of economic freedoms and the index of freedom of speech. Submitted an application for the Action Plan on NATO membership. Joined the World Trade Organization. The Institute of National Memory was founded. The Holodomor of 1932-1933 was recognized as genocide of the Ukrainian people.
At the same time, the domestic political situation remained difficult from the first weeks after Yushchenko’s inauguration. His personal conflict with Yulia Tymoshenko grew into a confrontation between the Presidential Secretariat and the Cabinet of Ministers. The consequences were the dismissal of the prime minister in September 2005 and the early termination of the powers of the parliament in 2007. These crises contributed to strengthening the positions of the counter-revolutionary forces led by the pro-Russian Party of Regions.
Yushchenko’s long patriotic speeches at the end of his five-year term were perceived with irritation, to say the least, even by his supporters from the Maidan days.
In the 2010 elections, Yushchenko won 5.45% of the vote and took fifth place.
“Sculpted mock-up”. Yushchenko participated in the creation of the trident for the Motherland
Now
He is the founder of the Institute of Strategic Initiatives. He takes care of four museums, one of which he created himself. He is still fond of beekeeping.
Yury Lutsenko
Who in 2004
“Veteran” of protest movements (Ukraine without Kuchma, Uprising, Ukraine!), 39-year-old Lutsenko was a member of the Verkhovna Rada (faction of the Socialist Party).
Role in the Maidan
“Field commander.” As early as November 21, 2004, together with his colleagues from the opposition, he was setting the scene. Then he organized the life of the tent city. His impassioned speeches made him one of Maidan’s favorites.
Said about the Orange Uprising:
“Millions of people will feel a touch of nostalgia for those events that, as a rule, happen no more than once in the lifetime of entire generations.”
After the revolution
Made a stormy political career. Twice he became the Minister of Internal Affairs (2005−2006, 2007−2010), served time in prison on a falsified verdict during the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych, acted for the second time as a “field commander” during the Revolution of Dignity, then was the general prosecutor (2016−2019), although he did not have the necessary legal education.
Now
In 2022-2023, he served in the Armed Forces, participated in the liberation of the right bank of the Kherson region and the battles for Bakhmut. The position is the commander of a platoon of attack drones. Dismissed from the army due to health. Back in 2020, he reported that he had cancer.
Oleksandr Moroz