Yulia's 365 days

Few days ago - quite late in the evening - while I walked Iggy - I saw a man putting some stickers on light poles.
Here light poles are "boards" for offering all kinds of services. You can find phone numbers offering apartments for rent or sale, cheap hotels, dancing classes, yoga classes, english classes, selling or buying cars, "cheap" loans. The man who was busy putting stickers looked somewhat apprehensive.
I have not paid much attention to it. 
Next morning I was curious what kind of service was offered on the pole in front of my house.  It was clear why the man was uncomfortable.
He put on a pole small stickers commemorating Yulia's 365 days of incarceration.
Putting up big posters would attract to much attention and would not be allowed. With small stickers - Yulia was on all poles.

Yulia

On the Prorizna street somebody put Yulia on. Quite high up. Prominent. Like the rat in the bottom.

Best Louis Vuitton Advertising

The above is the slogan posted on the walled area of goverment supporters.
It translates to: Clothes (made by) Louis Vuitton is a brand of Ukrainian oposition.
The refernce is to Yulia's preference for Louis Vuitton.
I think this is an excellent advertising for Louis Vuitton.

Government supporters

And here are supporters of the court to put Yulia in prison. These supporters are young, well organized and their area is well guarded. They have well pointed places for standing (each person stands behind a blue stripe on the asphalt) and when the leader gives a sign they start to wave flags.

Yulia's Supporters

Yulia is now more than a month in prison. Her supporters continue to camp on Khreshatik. Most of visual materials are superbly done. Albeit the lanaguage in them is often crude. In Yulia's camp people are relaxed. Willing to communicate and pose for camera. For all of the supporters I met there - Yulia is their hero.

Yulia's Arrest

Yesterday afternoon I was shocked when my colleagues informed me Yulia was arrested. I have not expected her arrest.

The court where Yulia's trail took place is on Khreshatik. I passed it every day. Since the trail started the supporters of Yulia took about 50m of pavement on the right side from the court entrance. The government supporters took another 50m on the left side from the court entrance.
Both sides put up tents with flags and huge slogans. There was music and loudspeakers. The court hearing was directly transmitted.
The trail seems politically motivated. Charges are Yulia have not negotiated well gas prices with Russia in January 2009. That's when most of the Eastern Europe was freezing because Russian closed the gas tap on Jan 1st 2009. Yulia went to negotiate gas prices with Putin and signed a deal. Russian Foreign Ministry stated the gas deal is legal.
Tymoshenko charges that her trial is a ploy by President Viktor Yanukovych to bar her from politics. Yulia refused to respect the court and remained seated when addressing the judge. She called judge a monster. When current Prime Minister gave his testimony in Russian Yulia requested a translator saying she does not understand Russian.
Yulia's yesterday's arrest makes obvious the government is not afraid showing off its power. There were 11 buses with military men on the street. So far intimidation works.

It's unclear how long will the Yulia stay in prison.

Court hearing for Yulia

This morning centre of Kiev was full of Yulia's supporters. They came from all over Ukraine to support Yulia who appeared in the court today.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/24/us-ukraine-tymoshenko-idUSTRE75N17M20110624
Yulia was in the court for the pre-trial hearing which was to decide if there is a case against Ms Tymoshenko accused for abuse of power over the 2009 gas supply agreement. The prosecution alleges Yulia forced in Jan 2009 at that time the head of Naftogaz to sign the gas deal with Russia's Gazprom. Following the signing of the deal the gas delivery resumed.

To refresh the memory - in January 2009 - as the New Year present to Europe - Russia stopped its gas supply to Europe because of a dispute with Ukraine. Half of the Europe (13 countries) was for two weeks without gas supply.