Avakov is the devil (Ukrainian: Аваков — чорт) was a slogan used during a series of protests in Ukraine against Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov, which took place from 2019 through 2021. The primary demand of the protesters was to remove Avakov from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with the slogan being displayed during rallies held on August 28, 2019, as a result of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to retain Avakov in the Honcharuk Government.
Etymology
editThe name comes from a combination of two words: Avakov (Minister of Internal Affairs) and "devil" (a slang word that came from prison culture).
According to the Ukrainian mass media, the "Avakov is the devil" meme was launched in the public space by Roman Sinitsyn, a volunteer and public activist.[1]
Background
editOn March 25, 2014, public activist Oleksandr Muzychko was killed by internal affairs authorities.[2]
On March 27, 2014, the Rivne City Council declared the death of Oleksandr Muzychka a political murder and called on the Minister of Internal Affairs, Arsen Avakov, to resign.[3]
On March 31, 2014, the Lutsk City Council declared the death of Oleksandr Muzychka a political murder and called on the Minister of Internal Affairs, Arsen Avakov, to resign.[4]
On February 7, 2016, Mykhailo Medvedev was killed by the police.[5]
On February 10, 2016, relatives of Mykhailo Medvedev picketed the Department of the Patrol Service with the slogan "We are against murderous cops!".
On February 13, 2016, protests against such police actions took place.
On May 31, 2019, the 5-year-old child of Kyrylo Tlyavov was shot dead by police officers.[6]
On June 3, 2019, Kyrylo Tlyavov died.[7]
On June 4, 2019, protest actions demanding the resignation of Arsen Avakov were held throughout Ukraine.[8]
According to public activists, experts and mass media, during his tenure as a minister, Avakov assumed many powers. This applies, for example, to his intervention in the case of Serhiy Sternenko, which is being investigated by the Prosecutor General's Office and the Security Service of Ukraine.[9][10][11] Also, according to Sternenko, the pro-Russian oligarchs Medvedchuk and Avakov are responsible for the attacks on him.[12]
The lack of investigations of attacks against public activists and journalists, and first of all the investigation of the murder of Kateryna Handziuk, also serves as the reason for the series of actions "Avakov is the devil".[13]
Protests against Avakov
editThe first action took place on August 28, 2019, near the President's Office, when it became known that Avakov will head the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the newly appointed Honcharuk government.[14][15]
On February 23, 2020, as a result of the excessive involvement of the Minister of Internal Affairs in solving problems related to the coronavirus, activists gathered in Kyiv for the "Get Avakovirus" campaign, which became part of the "Avakov is the devil" campaign.[16]
June 5, 2020— during Avakov's report to the Parliament of Ukraine regarding the investigation into the police rape of a woman in Kaharlyk and the shooting in Brovary with the participation of 100 people, activists gathered in front of the Parliament under the slogans "Avakov is the devil".[17][18][19]
May 18, 2020 — as part of protests against the imprisonment of activist Serhiy Sternenko, protesters gathered in Kyiv under the slogans "Avakov is the devil".[20]
On June 18, 2020 — activists gathered for a rally outside the Verkhovna Rada, demanding Avakov's release.[21]
References
edit- ^ ""Наступні історії масових протестів в Україні будуть пов'язані з мусорами". Велике інтерв'ю з Романом Сініциним | Новинарня". 2020-08-07. Archived from the original on 2020-08-07. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "Українська міліція оприлюднила хронологію смерті Сашка Білого". ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 2014-03-26. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "Олександр Музичко (Сашко Білий): історія загибелі незламного рівнянина (+ФОТО, ВІДЕО) | ОГО". ogo.ua. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "Луцька міськрада визнала загибель Сашка Білого політичним вбивством". ua.korrespondent.net (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ Кровавая погоня за бешеным BMW. Полная версия видео. Регистратор полицейского. 7.02.2016., 22 February 2016, retrieved 2022-10-04
- ^ "Вбивсто 5-річного Кирила Тлявова: обвинувачуваного просять відпустити на фронт". ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ Gazeta.ua (2020-05-30). "Патрульний прострілив голову 5-річному хлопчику". Gazeta.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ Свобода, Радіо (4 June 2019). "Авакова – у відставку: українські міста вийшли на акції протесту через загибель 5-річного хлопчика". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "Чорт з вами - ZAXID.NET". 2020-07-27. Archived from the original on 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ Свобода, Радіо (2020-07-27). "Стерненко прийшов до СБУ (фото)". Радіо Свобода. Archived from the original on 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "Війни Сергія Стерненка від Майдану до Авакова. Що відбувається у справах одеського активіста". 2020-07-09. Archived from the original on 2020-07-09. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "Сергій Стерненко: За атаками на мене стоять Аваков і Медведчук - Главком". 2020-07-27. Archived from the original on 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ Свобода, Радіо (2020-07-27). ""Аваков боїться плакатів": активісти під ОП вимагали відставки голови МВС". Радіо Свобода. Archived from the original on 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "Фото Акція "Аваков - чорт" - УНІАН". 2020-07-27. Archived from the original on 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "На Банковій проходить акція "Аваков - чорт!" (фото) - Главком". 2021-11-18. Archived from the original on 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ Свобода, Радіо (2020-07-27). ""Аваков боїться плакатів": активісти під ОП вимагали відставки голови МВС". Радіо Свобода. Archived from the original on 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "ТСН ранок 2020 ТСН за 2020.06.05 онлайн на 1+1 video". 2020-07-27. Archived from the original on 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "Аваков - під Раду притягли радянський міліцейський "бобік" (фото, відео) — Новини Києва — УНІАН". 2020-07-21. Archived from the original on 2020-07-21. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "Під Радою, де звітує Аваков, запалили поліцейський бобік | Громадське телебачення". 2020-07-27. Archived from the original on 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "Сергій Стерненко - під будівлею СБУ проходить масова акція — Новини Києва — УНІАН". 2020-07-27. Archived from the original on 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "Під Радою вимагали звільнення міністра Авакова - Фото №1". 2020-07-27. Archived from the original on 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2022-10-04.