DISINFO: A violent coup d’état took place in Ukraine in 2014
SUMMARY
A violent coup d’état, supported by the West and by nationalist groups, took place in Ukraine in 2014. Donetsk and Luhansk proclaimed independence because they feared repression against the Russian speaking population, which is a majority in these areas.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about Euromaidan and the war in Ukraine .
The peaceful protests, which broke out in Kyiv beginning is late 2013, were a spontaneous popular uprising in response to a change in the policies of the then government led by Viktor Yanukovych.
This spontaneous popular uprising is known as Euromaidan and was born within Ukrainian society, uniting citizens of all ages, sexes and social classes. Furthermore, there is no evidence to support the claim that Euromaidan was provoked by Western governments or nationalist movements.
The Ukrainian population rallied against then-President Yanukovich's refusal to sign the EU-Ukraine Association agreements, cancelling seven years of negotiations, in favour of a more Russia-aligned policy, distancing Ukraine from the European Union.
The demands of the protesters during Euromaidan included constitutional reforms, an end to endemic post-Soviet corruption in every sphere of society, presidential elections and, following the government's repressive responses to the street protests, an end to violence.
Since April 2014, following Yanukovich's flight to Russia and his subsequent removal from office as president, the fact that Russian forces intervened in Eastern Ukraine in violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity has been proven in Eastern Ukraine. Moscow supported alleged local armed separatists who took control of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics,
Despite clear evidence, Russia continues to deny any involvement in the conflict between Ukraine and the separatist republics.
Read similar cases claiming that after a coup Kyiv imposed siege on the people of Donbas, that the Western-backed coup in Ukraine has torn the country asunder and that 2014 coup in Kyiv led to Crimea referendum and Donbas war.