A paradoxical situation has followed the arrest of former Regionnaire Ihor Markov. Like the unshakable stand of the government concerning Ukraine’s EU integration course, it makes not only the opponents of the Party of Regions, but also its adherents ponder. He seems their own man: why then did they deprive him of a deputy mandate and then detained? The main question is what for? For cruel beating of so-called “banderites” in 2007, when they were rallying against the monument to Catherine II near the oblast state administration. When the Party of Regions is at power, for Ukraine’s pro-Russian citizens it is simply abnormal, in terms of beliefs.
Namely because of that, as well as because he is simply “the boss and the breadwinner,” supporters of Markov and Rodyna Party tried to defend him in Odesa by impeding his transportation from Kyiv to choose a preventive measure. After lasting clashes and fighting between “Markovites” and Berkut (there are injured people on both sides), the ex-MP was transported from the capital. But this is not all. It turned out that on the eve the detainee prepared a video address to Odesa residents: “I call upon you to go to the streets and show to this regime that we are not a speechless flock, but citizens.”