Orange Revolution in Ukraine
Ukrainian Orange Revolution was a series of protests, strikes and other actions of civil disobedience during November and December 2004 presidential election. The movement was organized by supporters of Viktor Yuschenko and assailants of Viktor Yanukovich, main candidates and opponents in Ukrainian presidential elections.
The revolution was considered to have commenced with the protest actions after the announcement of preliminary results made by Central Election Commission (CEC), according to which Viktor Yanukovich was the winner. Supreme Court stated the fact of the voting procedure and vote counting violation which resulted in canceling the CEC decree on the election results and binding over to hold another ballot.
The protesters succeeded in bringing Ukrainian authorities to wait for Supreme Court results which would lay the basis for reelections. This time Viktor Yuschenko was officially declared as the winner of presidential election.
Orange color united Ukrainian revolutionaries. Even before dynamic actions on Independence Square it was presented in clothes and accessories of young and politically-active people.
The orange plant became one of the most vivid revolution symbols. Yuschenko’s followers were presenting the plants to each other and to their assailants. The verbal symbol became “Maydan” (“Square”). It also became popular between Ukrainian politicians of different camps to talk about “Maydan Ideas”.
Ukrainian Orange Revolution - Independence Square in Kyiv
Ukrainian Orange Revolution
