Ukraine bans Gorbachev from entering country
Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev (left) gives the trophy to the World Women's Chess Champion to China's Yifan Hou during a ceremony in Tirana on November 30, 2011. Gorbachev has been banned from entering Ukraine. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
- Ukraine has deprived its citizens of access to modern Russian cinema.
- It has also blocked Russian media figures from visiting and cancelled all flights between the two countries.
- Mikhail Gorbachev, one of the 20th century’s iconic figures has been blacklisted by Ukraine for supporting Russia’s re-absorption of Crimea.
KIEV
Ukraine’s embargo-happy regime has been outlawing all sorts of things of Russian origin. It has deprived its citizens of access to modern Russian cinema.
It has also blocked Russian media figures from visiting and cancelled all flights between the two countries, writes Bryan MacDonald is an Irish journalist, based in Russia.
The latter move particularly hit Ukrainians hard as Russian hubs are vital for air-transport links. Not to mention that millions of Ukrainians who live and work in Russia used those connections to visit home.
Mikhail Gorbachev, one of the 20th century’s iconic figures has been blacklisted by Ukraine for supporting Russia’s re-absorption of Crimea.
In Moscow, Ukraine’s obsession with sanctions has led to much amusement and head scratching.
The Russian economy is over 10 times larger, according to the IMF, so it’s roughly equivalent to Iran attempting to penalise the USA.
In their desire to wholeheartedly support the US/EU backed government there, prominent Western analysts have practically ignored Kiev’s questionable judgment.
Mikhail Gorbachev has been banned from entering the country. Yes indeed, Gorby himself.
INTRODUCING FREEDOMS
At the same time, Russians have a complicated relationship with Gorby. Many admire him for introducing freedoms and opening up the country.
Others blame him for collapsing a great power. Some castigate Boris Yeltsin as the architect of Russia’s horrendous 1990’s experience, but a fair percentage remains furious with Gorbachev.
For the past thirty years, Gorby could do no wrong in Western eyes. He won a Nobel Peace Prize, delivered lecture tours around the world and even starred in a Pizza Hut commercial.
When he turned 80, some of the world’s biggest stars attended a lavish birthday party in his honour at London’s Royal Albert Hall. They included Kevin Spacey, Bryan Ferry, Sharon Stone, Milla Jovavich, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Goldie Hawn. Even Mel C from the Spice Girls showed up.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has appealed to French counterpart Francois Hollande to help Ukrainian football fans get visas for Euro 2016, his office said.
“The head of state (asked) President Hollande to facilitate the issuance of visas for Ukrainian fans who are planning to visit the European Football Championship in France”, the official statement said late Monday.
