Conspiring to Deceive in Kyiv

"They crucified me, they nailed down my hands. They cut off my ear. They cut my face. There isn't a spot on my body that hasn't been beaten.
"Thank God, I am alive."
Dmytro Bulatov member of Automaidan, Ukraine

Vitali Klitschko speaks to Dmytro Bulatov in hospital. Photograph: AP

"Dmytro asked me to pass his greetings to everyone and to say that he has not been broken and will not be broken. That he is full of energy and despite the fact that his body has been beaten, Dmytro's spirit is strong."
Opposition leader Petro Poroshenko

Mr. Bulatov has reason to be grateful to be alive. He could just as readily not be. Igor Lutsenko, another prominent opposition activist was similarly unfortunate. He also was abducted, taken from a hospital where he had brought another protester Yuri Verbitsky, for treatment for an eye injury he had sustained. Mr. Verbitsky had also been taken away, beaten, and discovered later, dead. This strategy of abduction, beating and dumping bodies seems to reflect the descent of order into chaos in Ukraine.

Mr. Bulatov turned up outside Kyiv, severely beaten, and after nails had been driven into his hands, a piece of an ear sliced off, his face badly cut. Kept in the dark throughout the week of his dreadful ordeal, he would not be able, he said in frustration, to identify his kidnappers. Once they had finished beating him, they had dumped him in a forest. Not the first time, and certainly this will not be the last, with the emerging pattern of retribution.

When he was kidnapped a campaign was speedily organized for his release. The organizers pleaded with government officials for assistance, they offered a $25,000 reward for anyone who could lead them to where he was being kept. Fellow activist Oleksiy Hrytsenko, a friend of Mr. Bulatov, said members of Automaidan had been under great pressure during the protests. Their cars were torched, activists were detained, harassed and threatened.

Protesters warm themselves up on the barricade during ongoing protests in Kiev. Photograph: Filip Janek 
 
Police have opened an investigation into the string of abductions, tortures and murders. Since it is entirely likely that it is from among their contingents these incidents occur, the results of such an investigation could be quite interesting. Particularly given the theory advanced by the interior ministry that both Bulatov and Hrytsenko, on a wanted list accused of organizing mass disturbances, may have staged their own kidnappings.

"This could have been staged as a provocation, in order to create negative emotions in society", claimed Oleg Tarasov. Going on to elaborate that Bulatov had been kidnapped over a financial issue. Certainly 'negative emotions' prevail in Ukrainian society at present, and have for the last several months, creating an immense headache for the thugs who govern the country.

As for Mr. Bulatov willingly committing himself to pain and mutilation; even for a masochist that would seem somewhat excessive.