Ukrainians overthrow dictatorship (Orange Revolution), 2004

The October 31, 2004, presidential elections in Ukraine pitted popular opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko against Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.  The incumbent president, Leonid Kuchma, had personally chosen Yanukovych as his successor, but their political party was losing popular support.  Yushchenko, supported by a united opposition, was expected to win the election.  However, the October 31 election yielded no winner, with each candidate receiving about 40% of the votes.  At this point most opposition groups, such as the student group Pora, already suspected fraud.  Pora set up a protest camp immediately, but other groups awaited the run-off vote.

This run-off vote took place on November 21, 2004, and official results from Kuchma’s government showed that Yanukovych had won by 3%.  Exit polls, on the other hand, showed Yushchenko winning by 11%.  For the supporters of Yushchenko and his opposition coalition, this was a clear sign of election fraud.  This perception was supported by evidence of ballot manipulation. 

Yushchenko’s supporters took to the streets in large-scale protest beginning on November 22, determined to defend their right to free elections and to instate the rightful winner. These demonstrators congregated in the Maidan, Kiev’s main square. The next day 500,000 people in Kiev marched to the parliament building.  These demonstrators formed a sea of orange, the color of Yushchenko’s campaign, by wearing orange ribbons and carrying orange flags.

Several other cities also refused to recognize the results of the election, believing Yushchenko to be the true winner.  Yushchenko, in a largely symbolic act, entered parliament and took the presidential oath.

Prime Minister Yanukovych’s supporters also held demonstrations, especially in the south and east.  Miners that favored Yanukovych made their way to Kiev, but they were largely outnumbered by the pro-Yushchenko demonstrators. Furthermore, on November 24, the Central Election Commission announced Yanukovych as the winner, sparking even greater anger from the pro-Yushchenko groups.

Despite the confrontational nature and huge size of demonstrations, the pro-Yushchenko campaigners were determinedly nonviolent, with organizers like Pora having been influenced by the writings of Gene Sharp.  The campaigners were also influenced by the previous nonviolent Colour Revolutions in Serbia (see “Serbians overthrow Milosevic (Bulldozer Revolution), 2000”) and Georgia (see “Georgians overthrow a dictator (Rose Revolution), 2003”).

The Yushchenko supporters continued their mass demonstrations in Kiev, with numbers nearing one million people.  Demonstrators from outside Kiev also came to the capital to join in the protests.  In order to support the presence in Kiev of demonstrators from around the country, the campaigners took over public buildings, offered private homes, and set up open kitchens.  Protestors also occupied the Maidan and set-up tents to continue the spirit of protest day and night.  The demonstrators gave flowers to the soldiers that surrounded the Maidan and played music for them.  The Maidan became a site for speeches and musical entertainment in conjunction with the political protest.  And each morning and night, a multi-denominational religious service was held in the square.

Citizens in other parts of the country also held local protests, demonstrations, and strikes.  As the campaign grew, Yushchenko set up the Committee of National Salvation and called for a national strike until the true results of the election were honored. 

On November 28, a high up government official (either the Interior Minister or the Chief of Staff) ordered troops to move in on the demonstrators.  The higher ranks of soldiers refused the orders, however, and the attack never took place.

On December 1, the parliament joined the side of the campaigners, passing a vote of no-confidence in Prime Minister Yanukovych ‘s government.  On December 3, the Supreme Court followed suit, announcing that the election was fraudulent and Yanukovych’s “victory” could not be recognized.  Following this decision, parliament set up a new run-off election for December 26.

After negotiations that lasted until December 8, Yanukovych and Kuchma agreed to a new run-off vote, when Yuschenko and the parliament agreed to measures that would limit the future president’s power.

On December 26, 2004, observers from around the world monitored the elections in order to prevent fraud.  When all votes had been counted—this time without manipulation—Yushchenko won, 52% to Yanukovych’s 44%.  The “Orange Revolution” by Ukrainians was successful.