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The Left Opposition (Ukrainian: Ліва опозиція, romanizedLiva opozytsiya; Russian: Левая оппозиция, romanizedLevaya oppozitsiya) was a Pro-Russian coalition of socio-political organizations and parties in Ukraine established in June 2015.

On March 19, 2022, the activities of the political group were suspended by the National Security and Defense Council during martial law.[1]

Leadership

The association was headed by 5 co-chairs:[2][3]

Members

The association includes 5 political parties, 13 public organizations and 6 individuals.

Parties:

Public organizations:

Individuals:

It was also announced that the vicegerent of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed), close to the Communist Party of Ukraine, could join the movement. The Socialist Party of Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian Public Movement "Ukrainian Choice" of Viktor Medvedchuk refused to participate in the association.

Ideology

Political theses of the organization:

  • The events of February 2014 are a "coup d'état" that led Ukraine to the loss of economic and political independence;
  • The domestic and foreign policy of Ukraine is “determined by the United States of America, international financial oligarchies”;[2]
  • Ukraine is “united by a common history, culture, spirituality, civilizational values” with Russia and Belarus, but not with the USA and EU countries;
  • The territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine were preserved only in the conditions of the unity of "our countries (Ukraine, Russia, Belarus) and fraternal peoples";[4]
  • Organization denounces laws condemning communist ideology;[4]
  • The organization condemns the course towards the integration of Ukraine with Europe.[4]

Goals:

  • Joining the Customs Union with Russia;
  • Russian as a second state language;[4]
  • "Restoration of good neighborly, equal and mutually beneficial relations" with the Russian Federation and Belarus.[4]

History

On 12 June 2015, the constituent assembly of the political movement was held in Kyiv.[citation needed]

Criticism

Name theft charge

The eponymous socialist organization "Left Opposition" (one of the successors of the Organization of Marxists, mainly from its Trotskyist wing; its representatives create a new left party "Social Rukh") accused "representatives of the previous authorities (KPU), marginal Russophiles ("Kievan Rus") and Black Hundreds (PSPU), who parasitize on the left movement”, of stealing its name. According to the statement of its activist Nina Potarskaya, their organization is named after the leftists of the 20s with whom they associate themselves (leftists in the Central Rada and the Left Opposition in the VKP(b) opposing Stalinism).

References


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