The events of the outgoing week are reminiscent of the works of the Ukrainian avant-gardist Kazimir Malevich – the total domination of colors over the meaning. Ukraine will receive a billion tranche, Donald Trump met with Kim Jong-Un and the European Parliament demanded the immediate release of Oleg Sentsov. Powerful information causes, but whether they will be the consequences that everyone expects: peace, stability and freedom. DUMKA analyzes the key events of the last 7 days in the pictures of the Kyiv artist.
Devils are sawing sinner, 1914. Kazimir Malevich
A rough lithograph with a simple motive resembles an attempt by Ukrainian politicians to create an Anti-Corruption Court. Corruption – as a sinner, who should not just be punished, but destroyed. An important matter, on which the salvation of the main one depends (to Kazimir Malevich – the soul, for Ukrainians – the whole country), is entrusted to the devils by tradition. The bill was supported by 315 deputies, and 2000 amendments were included in the document itself. Already after the publication in the “Voice of the Country”, it became clear that any decision of the future Anti-Corruption Court could be appealed to the older attendants of the Themis. In addition, it will take at least 20 months to create it – during this time any corrupt person can walk to any place in the world. The ordinary Ukrainians can only hope that the dark forces will not only pardon their sins but also truly “take the right path”.
Recreation. Society in Cylinders, 1908. Kazimir Malevich
Ukraine will still receive a billion euros of macro-financial assistance from the EU. At the decisive voting in Brussels, 527 deputies of the European Parliament voted in favor, and 127 against. Experts say: “If everything goes well, the first tranche should be paid in September”. They say that it was because of the threat of the abolition of monetary assistance that our politicians hurriedly passed the law on the Anti-Corruption Court. However, this summer, without exception, officials won’t sunbathe with European chic, as in the picture of Malevich, but still work to get this money. Indeed, in January 2018, due to incomplete observance of the established conditions, the contribution of more than 600 million euros was canceled. Because of this issue, the dollar almost reached the level of 30 UAH, and the euro – 35. The NBU had to sell gold and foreign exchange reserves for hundreds of millions of dollars to save the country from default. Whether the politicians learned their mistakes – let’s see after the summer vacations.
Two peasants in the background of fields, 1930. Kazimir Malevich
The meeting of Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un shook the whole world. As in the picture of Malevich, the US president symbolizes gold (he spent more time on Wall Street than in the White House), and the “red dictator” corresponds to the red ideology of Juche. The leaders of the two countries exchanged pleasantries, shook hands for a long time and, it seemed, hoped that this day would bring them the Nobel Peace Prize. One way or another, but the historical document is signed – North Korea will be “denuclearized” – that is, deprived of nuclear weapons, which several generations of Kim had been threatening to destroy the entire capitalist world.
The leader of North Korea, after the negotiations were over, called the summit with US President Donald Tramp “historical”.
“We decided to leave the past behind. The world will see major changes”, said Kim Jong-Un.
For Ukraine, this means that even crazy dictators can be forced into dialogue and peace. Ukraine has no power levers, as in the United States, but it is worthwhile to learn diplomacy from Trump – to push and stand on its own until the goals are achieved. A few days after the Singapore summit, the President of the United States said that he would like to see Putin in the G8 and “talk about Ukraine”.
“I will tell you, for example, if he was at that meeting, I could ask him to do what is good for the world, what is good for a country, and what is good for him, the President of the Russian Federation”, said Trump.
It is worth noting that other leaders perceived this idea with skepticism, but Trump proved: he knows how to play in “diplomacy”.
Association, 1930. Kazimir Malevich
Naked, barefoot, but impose their ideology on all and play with muscles – Russia in 1930 in the paintings of Malevich and the reality of 2018 are almost identical. A lot of internal problems, corruption, endless aggression and a sport holiday – the World Cup – it would seem that things are incompatible, but FIFA thinks otherwise. Well, the Ukrainian team all the same flew out of the tournament in its final part, but 6000 of our fans still decided to enjoy the views of Saransk and Samara. “It’s their right”, someone will say, forgetting about the dozens of political prisoners in Russian prisons, who have received dozens of years just for the fact of their stay in the Russian Federation.
The more conscious Ukrainians began the flash mob in response, under the slogan: “At the World Cup in Russia we play for political prisoners”.
“Today we will score the first goal to Putin. On the opening day of the World Cup in Russia, we begin our own. And we will play for political prisoners”, – says the message of the movement with the hashtag #SaveOlegSentsov.
The organization notes that they are fighting for the adoption of a special resolution of the European Parliament on Oleg Sentsov and other prisoners of the Kremlin.
Athletes, 1931. Kazimir Malevich
And the West has heard. No matter how colorful the whole world was (just like the people in the picture of Malevich), everyone united around Sentsov’s salvation. The European Parliament adopted a resolution demanding the Russian authorities immediately and unconditionally release him and all other citizens of Ukraine illegally detained in Russia and Crimea.
485 European deputies voted for this document on Thursday.
In the resolution, the European Parliament strongly condemns the verdict against Oleg Sentsov, rendered by the court in Rostov-on-Don in 2015, and the deputies believe that the cases of Ukrainian captives contradict international law and elementary standards of justice.
On June 7, the American PEN Center wrote to Putin and the chairman of the FIFA about Sentsov. 48 people signed their letters. Among them is Stephen King.
“Today is day 1 of the FIFA World Cup and day 32 of Oleg Sentsov’s hunger strike. Join me and penamerican in calling for the release of this Ukrainian filmmaker unjustly imprisoned in Russia. Time is running out, and he may die for his views” the American writer wrote on his Twitter.
We hope that in the near future a miracle will happen and all Ukrainian prisoners will finally see the Ukrainian clear sky and bright sun.
Triumph of the sky, 1907. Kazimir Malevich
Text: Kostyantyn Rul
