Ukrainian Choice

Pro-Russian political organisation in Ukraine

Ukrainian Choice – Right of the People

Украинский выбор — право народа
Український вибір — право народу

Leader| Viktor Medvedchuk
Founder| Viktor Medvedchuk
Founded| 4 April 2012 (2012-04-04)
Dissolved| March 2022 (2022-03) (de facto)
Split from| Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united)
Headquarters| Vasylkivska 23-B, Kyiv
Ideology| Christian conservatism
Social conservatism
Federalism
Euroscepticism
Russophilia
Political position| Right-wing
National affiliation| Opposition Platform — For Life (2018–22)
Colours|  Light blue
Purple
Magenta
Website
vybor.ua

* Politics of Ukraine
* Political parties
* Elections

Ukrainian Choice, officially since 2016[1] named[2] Ukrainian Choice – Right of the People (Ukrainian: Український вибір — Право народу; Russian: Украинский выбор — право народа), is an NGO in Ukraine.[3][4] It was initiated by and is led by the business tycoon Viktor Medvedchuk. In Ukraine it is considered a pro-Russian organisation.[2]

After the beginning of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine some of the organisation leaders were detained by the SBU on charges of preparing a coup d'état and collaborating with Russian special services.[5] Medvedchuk himself is living in exile in Russia since September 2022 after being handed over to Russia in a prisoner exchange.[6]

## Ideology

[edit]

The organization was founded in April 2012. It opposes Ukraine–European Union relations and NATO membership of Ukraine and would prefer Ukraine to join the Eurasian Economic Union instead. The group also wants "decentralization of power followed by the transition to a federal structure, while maintaining the territorial integrity and unity of Ukraine".[7]

Ukrainian Choice also emphasizes Slavic Orthodox values: in July 2013, it organized a conference on the topic "Orthodox-Slavic values – the basics of the civilizational choice of Ukraine", where Vladimir Putin held a speech.[8] (Putin is the godfather of Medvedchuk's 2004 born daughter Darina).[9]

## Activities

[edit]

According to The New York Times the group aimed at stopping former president Viktor Yanukovych from signing Ukraine's Association Agreement with the European Union.[8] In a leaked June 2013 Russian-ordered consultation document, whose contents have been corroborated by a former security source in Ukraine, the Russian government wanted Ukrainian Choice to influence public opinion.[7] At the time Medvedchuk and the organization had marginal popular support in Ukraine.[10]

In the fall of 2013, Ukrainian Choice ran an aggressive anti-gay ad campaign warning against "decayed values" in the Western world.[8] Some of the ads claimed that association with the European Union would mean the legalization of same-sex marriage.[3] At the time, Medvedchuk described the European Union as the "modern heir to the Third Reich."[8] Another slogan of the organisation at the time was "the European path of development – is the path to the destruction of Ukraine's independence.[11]

During annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in March 2014, the organization organized blockage of Ukrainian military logistics.[12]

## De-facto end of the organisation

[edit]

After the beginning of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine some Ukrainian Choice leaders were detained by the SBU on charges of preparing a coup d'état and collaborating with Russian special services.[5]

Ukrainian Choice leader Viktor Medvedchuk himself is living in exile in Russia since September 2022 after being handed over to Russia in a prisoner exchange.[6]

In October 2022 the Kyiv District Administrative Court opened proceedings on a lawsuit by the Ministry of Justice banning, but a date of consideration of this case was not set.[13]

A former coordinator of the organisation in Mykolaiv Oblast was employed by Russian occupation officials and became a spokesperson of the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant in September 2023.[11]

In April 2023 Medvedchuk created the "Second Ukraine" movement that operates from Russia.[14]

## Criticism

[edit]

Former president of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk stated in 2012 that "The Ukrainian Choice is not a Ukrainian choice, but a choice of Russia in Ukraine".[15]

Dmitry Alekseev, a Russian political technologist and director general of Russia's National Political Agency, said in December 2013 that Russia was trying to "forge" pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine, so it was funding Viktor Medvedchuk's Ukrainian Choice project, as previously funded by Natalia Vitrenko's Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine.[16]

On February 26, 2014, deputies of the Zakarpattia Oblast Council banned the activities of Viktor Medvedchuk's "Ukrainian Choice" in the region.[17]

"Ukrainian Choice" is also accused of anti-Semitism for articles on the organization's website, which accuses Jews of allegedly owning all power in Ukraine.[18][19]

In March 2021 the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) searched "Ukrainian Choice" offices across Ukraine as part of their investigation theses that the organisation helped to organize the Crimean referendum during the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea.[1] The SBU also claimed that the organisation continued to coordinate the activities of its members in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea "despite attempts to publicly distance themselves from the illegal actions of their colleagues on the peninsula."[1] "Ukrainian Choice" officially liquidated its Crimean branch in 2017.[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d (in Ukrainian) The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) searched the office of Medvedchuk's public movement, Ukrayinska Pravda (25 March 2021)
2. ^ a b Criminal proceedings against Viktor Medvedchuk opened over high treason, encroachment on Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Ukrinform (5 February 2019)
3. ^ a b Ukraine's Choice: East Or West?, Radio Free Europe (April 17, 2016)
4. ^ Ukrainian Choice leader Medvedchuk says he doesn't represent interests of DPR, LPR, but negotiates with them, Kyiv Post (Jun. 25, 2014)
5. ^ a b BFM.ru. "На Украине задержан член фракции "Оппозиционная платформа — За Жизнь" Виктор Медведчук". BFM.ru - деловой портал (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-08-12.
"СБУ задержала одного из лидеров партии Медведчука "Украинский выбор"". www.unian.net (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-08-12.
"В Киеве задержали одного из лидеров партии Медведчука "Украинский выбор", который сотрудничал с российскими спецслужбами | Громадское телевидение". hromadske.ua (in Russian). 5 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
"СБУ заявила о задержании одного из лидеров партии Медведчука". Life.ru (in Russian). 2022-05-05. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
6. ^ a b "Putin Ally Medvedchuk, 55 Servicemen Freed in Swap With Ukraine". Moscow Times. 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
Wilson, Andrew (2005). Virtual Politics: Faking Democracy in the Post-Soviet World. Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-09545-7.
Kinstler, Linda (28 May 2015). "The 12 people who ruined Ukraine". POLITICO.
"I currently live in Moscow on permanent basis "by necessity" – Medvedchuk". Ukrainska Pravda. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
7. ^ a b Failing Ukraine state plays in to Russia's hands, Reuters (May 18, 2014)
8. ^ a b c d Close Friend of Russian Leader Takes Role as a Negotiator for Ukraine, The New York Times (FEB. 11, 2015)
9. ^ Медведчук і Марченко помінялися місцями. Tablo ID (in Ukrainian). 2007-11-11. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
10. ^ Kremlin-imposed “Ukrainian choice”, The Ukrainian Week (3 July 2012)
Playing opposition, Den (15 August 2013)
Russia's Plan For Ukraine: Purported Leaked Strategy Document Raises Alarm, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (20 August 2013)
11. ^ a b Former coordinator of the pro-Russian movement Medvedchuk «Ukrainian choice» became the speaker of the South Ukrainian NPP, Detector media [uk; ru] (19 September 2023) (in Ukrainian)
12. ^ Pro-Russian group of people blocked the Odesa highway in Mykolaiv impeding transportation of Ukrainian military transport. News PN. 2 March 2014
13. ^ Minjust wants to ban “Ukrainian choice” Medvedchuk, Chesno (21 October 2022) (in Ukrainian)
14. ^ Medvedchuk recruited in his new « movement » in the Russian Federation accused in the state of political scientists and commentators who managed to escape from Ukraine – «Schems», Radio Free Europe (26 April 2023) (in Ukrainian)
In Serbia, a branch of the Russian organization Medvedchuk "Drugaya Ukraine" was registered, UNIAN (7 December 2023) (in Ukrainian)
15. ^ «Український вибір» Медведчука — це вибір Росії в Україні" // «Країна», 24.07.2012. (in Ukrainian)
16. ^ "Російський політтехнолог розповів, хто фінансує "Український вибір" Медведчука". www.unian.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2020-06-11.
17. ^ "На Закарпатті заборонили "Український вибір" Медведчука". zik.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2020-06-11.
18. ^ "Антисемитский выбор Виктора Медведчука". АРГУМЕНТ. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
19. ^ "Антимайдан і "антиєвреї"". Club-tourist. Retrieved 2020-06-11.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website of Ukrainian Choice (in Russian)

* v
* t
* e

War in Donbas (2014–2022)

* Part of the Russo-Ukrainian War
* Followed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine

General
topics|

* Aircraft losses
* Humanitarian situation
* International reactions
* Sanctions
* Sanctioned people
* OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine
* Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine
* Civil volunteer movement
* Little green men
* Anti-terrorist Operation Zone
* Civil–military administrations

Timeline|

* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022

Battles|

* Battle of Artemivsk
* Siege of Sloviansk
* Battle of Kramatorsk
* Battle of Mariupol
* Battles of Sievierodonetsk
* Battle of Karlivka
* 1st Battle of Donetsk Airport
* Siege of the Luhansk Border Base
* Battle of Krasnyi Lyman
* Zelenopillia rocket attack
* Battle in Shakhtarsk Raion
* Battle of Horlivka
* Battle of Ilovaisk
* Novosvitlivka refugee convoy attack
* Battle of Novoazovsk
* Mariupol offensive
* 2nd Battle of Donetsk Airport
* Battle of Debaltseve
* Shyrokyne standoff
* Battle of Marinka
* Battle of Svitlodarsk
* Battle of Avdiivka (2017)

Other
events|

* Donbas status referendums
* Ukrainian Air Force Il-76 shootdown
* Shelling of Donetsk, Russia
* 2014 Russian cross-border shelling of Ukraine
* MH17 shoot-down
* reactions
* UNSC Resolution 2166
* NATO summit in Wales
* Minsk Protocol
* Donbas general elections
* 2014 G20 Brisbane summit
* Volnovakha bus attack
* Mariupol rocket attack
* Kramatorsk rocket attack
* Minsk II ceasefire agreement
* Kharkiv bombing
* Assassination of Alexander Zakharchenko
* Donbas general elections
* No to capitulation!
* Stanytsia Luhanska kindergarten bombing

Self-proclaimed
states|

* Donetsk People's Republic (April 2014 – September 2022)
* Luhansk People's Republic (April 2014 – September 2022)
* Novorossiya (May 2014 – May 2015)
* International recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic

(Pro-)
Russian|

| Organizations|

* Russian Armed Forces
* Wagner Group
* Separatist forces
* List of equipment
* Army of the South-East
* Russian Orthodox Army
* Vostok Battalion
* Kalmius Brigade
* Sparta Battalion
* Somalia Battalion
* Prizrak Brigade
* Political parties and movements
* Donetsk Republic
* New Russia Party
* Communist Party of DPR
* Peace to Luhanshchina
* Borotba
* Antifascist Committee of Ukraine
* Ukrainian Choice
* The Other Russia of E. V. Limonov
* Eurasian Youth Union
* Night Wolves
* Don Cossacks
* Internet Research Agency
* Russian Imperial Movement

|

Lead figures|

* Russian
* Vladimir Putin
* Dmitry Medvedev
* Vladislav Surkov
* Sergei Shoigu
* Crimean
* Sergey Aksyonov
* Vladimir Konstantinov
* Natalia Poklonskaya
* Donetsk
* Vladimir Antyufeyev
* Eduard Basurin
* Fyodor Berezin
* Igor Bezler
* Alexander Borodai
* Mikhail Chumachenko
* Igor Girkin
* Pavel Gubarev
* Ekaterina Gubareva
* Igor Khakimzyanov
* Alexander Khodakovsky
* Vladimir Kononov
* Arsen Pavlov†
* Vyacheslav Ponomarev
* Andrei Purgin
* Denis Pushilin
* Mikhail Tolstykh†
* Alexander Zakharchenko†
* Sergei Zhurikov
* Luhansk
* Alexander Bednov†
* Valery Bolotov†
* Aleksey Karyakin
* Aleksandr Kharitonov
* Arsen Klinchaev
* Sergey Kozlov
* Aleksey Mozgovoy†
* Leonid Pasechnik
* Igor Plotnitsky
* Gennadiy Tsypkalov†
* Kharkiv
* Yevhen Zhylin†
* Others
* Aleksandr Dugin
* Nelya Shtepa
* Oleg Tsaryov

Ukrainian|

| Organizations|

* Government of Ukraine
* 1st Yatsenyuk
* 2nd Yatsenyuk
* Groysman
* Ministry of Internal Affairs
* National Guard
* Azov
* Donbas
* Patrol Police
* Dnipro-1
* Armed Forces of Ukraine
* Ukrainian Ground Forces
* Territorial defense battalions
* Aidar
* Dnipro-2
* Kryvbas
* Rukh Oporu
* Ukrainian Air Force
* Ukrainian Air Assault Forces
* Security Service of Ukraine
* Alpha Group
* Euromaidan Press
* State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
* Volunteer battalions
* Right Sector

|

Lead figures|

* Petro Poroshenko
* Oleksandr Turchynov
* Arseniy Yatsenyuk
* Volodymyr Groysman
* Andriy Parubiy
* Arsen Avakov
* Vitali Klitschko
* Oleh Tyahnybok
* Yuriy Lutsenko
* Valentyn Nalyvaichenko
* Valeriy Heletey
* Stepan Poltorak
* Mykhailo Koval
* Mykhailo Kutsyn
* Oleh Makhnitskyi
* Viktor Muzhenko
* Vitaly Yarema
* Oleh Liashko
* Dmytro Yarosh
* Rinat Akhmetov
* Ihor Kolomoyskyi
* Serhiy Taruta
* Ihor Baluta
* Semen Semenchenko
* Hennadiy Moskal
* Nadiya Savchenko
* George Tuka
* Pavlo Zhebrivskyi

* v
* t
* e

Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

Part of the Russo-Ukrainian War

Main topics|

* Timeline
* International reaction
* List of military units
* International sanctions
* List of sanctioned individuals
* List of companies that applied sanctions
* 2014 anti-war protests in Russia
* Reaction of Russian intelligentsia
* 2014 Crimean status referendum
* UN General Assembly Resolution 68/262
* Declaration of Independence
* Republic of Crimea
* 2014 Constitution of Crimea
* Political status
* Crimean Federal District
* Environmental impact
* Crimean speech of Vladimir Putin
* Medal "For the Return of Crimea"
* Capture of the Crimean Parliament
* Capture of Southern Naval Base
* 2014 Simferopol incident

Background|

* History of Crimea
* 1783 annexation by Russian Empire
* Crimean People's Republic
* 1921–1945 Crimean ASSR
* 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars
* 1945–1991 Crimean Oblast
* 1954 transfer of Crimea
* 1991–1992 Crimean ASSR
* Republic of Crimea (1992 to 1995)
* 1992 constitution of Crimea
* Autonomous Republic of Crimea (since 1995)
* 1994–1995 President of Crimea
* Yuriy Meshkov
* 1994 Budapest Memorandum
* 1997 Partition Treaty
* 1998 Constitution of Crimea
* 2003 Tuzla Island conflict
* 2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia
* 2010 Kharkiv Pact
* 2012 law on languages
* 2013–2014 Euromaidan
* Revolution of Dignity
* 40th G7 summit

Main places|

* Simferopol
* Simferopol Airport
* Building of the Supreme Council of Crimea
* Sevastopol
* Belbek Airport
* Crimean Bridge
* Donuzlav
* Ochakov scuttling
* Perevalne
* Armiansk
* Dzhankoi
* Chonhar
* Port Krym
* Strilkove
* Arabat Spit
* Novofedorivka

Pro-Russian|

| Organizations|

* Supreme Council of Crimea
* Council of Ministers of Crimea
* Sevastopol City Council
* Russian Armed Forces
* Black Sea Fleet
* Russian Airborne Troops
* Little green men
* Crimean Berkut
* Russian Unity
* Night Wolves
* Kuban Cossacks
* Ukrainian Choice

|

Lead figures (Russia)|

* Vladimir Putin
* Dmitry Medvedev
* Sergey Shoigu
* Vladislav Surkov
* Sergey Lavrov
* Valery Gerasimov
* Igor Sergun
* Aleksandr Vitko
* Oleg Belaventsev
* Rustam Minnikhanov

Lead figures (Crimea)|

* Sergey Aksyonov
* Vladimir Konstantinov
* Natalia Poklonskaya
* Rustam Temirgaliev
* Denis Berezovsky
* Sergei Yeliseyev
* Aleksei Chaly
* Igor Besler

Pro-Ukrainian|

| Organizations|

* Yatsenyuk government
* Parliamentary parties
* Batkivshchyna
* Svoboda
* UDAR
* Armed Forces of Ukraine
* Ukrainian Ground Forces
* Ukrainian Navy
* National Guard of Ukraine
* Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People
* Right Sector

|

Lead figures (Ukraine)|

* Oleksandr Turchynov
* Arseniy Yatsenyuk
* Andriy Parubiy
* Arsen Avakov
* Valentyn Nalyvaichenko
* Ihor Tenyukh
* Mykhailo Kutsyn
* Serhiy Hayduk

Lead figures (Crimea)|

* Mustafa Dzhemilev
* Refat Chubarov
* İlmi Ümerov
* Ahtem Chiygoz
* Serhiy Kunitsyn
* Yuliy Mamchur

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