Camren Smith

English 3
18 November 2015
Injustice in Ukraine
Ukraines citizens are continuing to live through the injustices and corruption that their
government imposes on a daily basis. After many attempts using civil protests and petition styled
requests citizens are weary of their chances at a better life for their children. Safety is always a
concern when dealing with a neighbor and more so government officials. Economic crashes
following the end of the Soviet union have left the country dependent on Russia for their natural
gas and other resources causing more conflict in the country and between their governments. An
internal and external reformation is needed desperately by Ukraine's citizens, dealing with their
government's foundational corruption and undergoing brutality by the hand of their government.
Corruption has rooted itself deep into the system in place. Police officers and judges
impose bribes for their citizens needs and commit unthinkable crimes against the people they are
hired to serve. Vradiyivka, a village in Ukraine, has come to be known as slang for selective
justice in the region by the event of a 29 year old woman who was kidnapped, beaten and raped
by two police officers. The areas precinct refused to charge those responsible and the case goes
unresolved to this day. (A.M.U.,170) The government in Ukraine should be actively searching
for justice in this horrific case but sadly there are many similar cases that are outright ignored by
officials. One of the largest fears of citizens in Ukraine are the criminality of the officers hired to
serve the country.

In addition to physical abuse, the government economically detaches its citizens

preventing sustained income. This affects the lower classes in Ukraine, or any persons not
grouped with the oligarchical mass in power over the region. Any citizen owned business (small
and large) in Ukraine is vulnerable to a phenomenon called corporate-raiding (Agency for the
modernisation of Ukraine, 171). This is basically a planned robbery where an actor playing a cop
is issued a warrant by a real judge to gain access into a business and steal all monetary funds as
evidence. The money is then property of the government (A.M.U., 171). The fact that this is
known to happen turns rule of law inside out and makes Ukraines criminal law a big joke. The
government protects the companies who possess direct ties with them and those companies then
remain with a complete monopoly on the market. To experience this injustice makes a future in
entrepreneurship seem impossible for an average citizen. As many democratic countries have
already discovered monopolies destroy economic growth, and more importantly the lives of their
citizens. A reformation of the economy and aid for business owners would take a step towards
humanity instead of the financial interests of the select few in Ukraine (Walker, Ukraine
elections).
The government is trying to protect their assets and funds first before their country. The
government continues to offer weak excuses to their citizens as to why they are not taking steps
to improve life and systems in Ukraine. This is a severe case of abuse of authority. Officials have
covered their ashamed face about the death toll from the Euromaidan protests with stricter laws
and enforced curfews on their citizens like aggressive, reactant children. And although they must
be aware of their mistakes, they refuse time and time again to use logic and humility in
conducting an evaluation of their actions that have caused so many casualties. The calls of
Ukrainian citizens through protest or submission should awaken people around the world to help

fellow human beings. Although the western hemisphere is 12,000 kilometers away from Ukraine,
anyone can hear these cries for a better future.
In conclusion these citizens are desperately trying to communicate a call to action. A
globally integral effort is ached for by the people undergoing turmoil in Ukraine. For the
purposeful agenda of human rights and social justice to reach the places it is needed most, the
western hemisphere and European neighboring countries should be eager to offer aid. In the long
term, a reform of the governmental agencies would improve aspects of Ukraines economy and
livelihood of its citizens greatly. Although this will be an uphill climb, an early start and strong
push will create an outcome that will be worth all the effort for the future generations of Ukraine.
While completing this research project I encountered both struggles and strongholds. It
was difficult to find current and viable information from reliable sources. Most strong points of
evidence led up to being outdated. I was unable to use some information for the purposes of my
paper though they continued to open my eyes to another world that previously I had only a
picture and an idea of what it might be like. I was very interested in the citizens of Ukraine after
hearing about their efforts in unity in Euromaidan protests and how their government retaliated
against them. Winter on fire, A film available on Netflix, outlines life in Ukraine and the
people who are fighting for the lives of their children, knowing that they may very well be
ignored during their lifetimes. I am glad that I chose this topic because of what I have learned
about these people and their region that are so far from my safe little home in Raleigh, North
Carolina. I am eager to find out if I can do anything to help.