Oppostitional and State Political Crimes

Oppositional Crime, or anti-systemic crime, is an action taken against a political or economic system.  This type of crime can range anywhere from violent terrorism to peaceful protest.   Although this type of crime can sometimes be acceptable, such as Ukrainians standing up and protesting  against Yanukovych and the police force in Kiev, it can also be very harmful such as the Malaysian airline MH-17 crash.



MH-17 was shot down from the sky on July 17, 2014.  298 innocent people were killed.  Although nothing is proven, it is understood that the airline was shot by accident, in an attempt of pro-Russian rebels to take down a Ukrainian aircraft.

This is an oppositional crime because the motives behind the rebel's actions.  They want Ukraine to give in to Russia and join the East, rather than joining the West and defying Putin.  Their attacks on Ukraine are acts of terrorism.  They want to be feared.  They want to seem powerful so that Ukraine will give in.  Their actions have done nothing except kill innocent people.  This is an oppositional crime.

State crime, or pro-systemic crimes, are actions by all forms of government attempting to maintain or gain power.  This can be anything from genocide to human rights violations to political corruption.  In February of 2014, the people of Ukraine felt so much anger and disappointment that they needed to take a stand against their government.  Yanukovych's failed promises to sign the agreement with Europe created an outrage.  Yanukovych feared the power of the protesters and created anti-protest laws and led his police force in a protester genocide.  Over 100 civilians were murdered as a result of police brutality, while over 1,400 were injured.  Yanukovych and his government committed a state crime by using violence to maintain their power. 



Although many protesters were killed and injured, Yanukovych's attempt at genocide had failed.  He did not maintain the power in Ukraine.  Ukraine rose up together against Yanukovych and Putin.  Yanukovych was impeached shortly after these protest incidents in Kiev.

References

 

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/02/ukraine_protest_photos_police_and_protesters_clash_during_demonstrations.html
http://wonderfulengineering.com/live-malaysian-airlines-mh-17-crash-images/

Political Crime Defined

Political Crime can be defined several ways.  Jeffrey Ross, author of An Introduction to Political Crime defines it as act that does not have to be technically illegal, but that it causes some type of social harm.

“Thus, an alternative, more contemporary, and inclusive definition and conceptualization of crime is needed. One definition that is gaining increasing legitimacy recognizes that crime is not only a type of deviance that has been codified or has been conceptualized as a violation of a criminal law, but it can be interpreted by the wider body politic as any social harm, moral transgression, and/or civil or human rights violation……This “social justice” perspective acknowledges that some behaviors are not traditionally labeled criminal, but should be, and that certain activities that do not violate the existing law, yet possess the previously mentioned characteristics should be considered crimes (Ross, 2012; p. 1.)”

The acts of Ukraine's police force during the protests in Kiev are considered political crime because the police used unnecessary brutality.  The protests were a result of Yanukovych not signing the agreement with Europe and taking Russia's bribe.  The citizens of Ukraine were outraged by their president's decision.  Yanukovych passed ridiculous anti-protesting laws, which cause the protesters to become more angry.  Yanukovych began his plan to "cleanse protesters."  Snipers were hired to murder any protesters.  The result was 108 deaths, and 1,418 injuries.  This is a political crime according to Ross's definition because the police violated human rights.  Their human rights of freedom of speech and expression were violated.  Most would agree that humans should be able to express their discontent when need be.  Yanukovych took severe action against his citizen's desire to express their discontent.  Yanukovych, his government, and his police force committed a political crime by creating extreme anti-protest laws and causing the deaths of over 100 civilians in attempt at protester genocide.

Jacqueline Helfgott had a little bit of a different opinion of what political crime is.
Helfgott was more interested in the motives behind the crime.  First, it legally had to be a crime.  Second, it had to be ideologically motivated.  Crimes committed by the state (i.e. Yanukovych murdering the protesters) and crimes against the state are considered political crime.

“A meaningful and comprehensive conceptual definition of political crime must distinguish it from other types of offenses while offering additional insight into the nature and dynamics of the behavior not explainable within the framework of non-ideologically motivated crimes. Given the focus here on criminal behavior, and taking into account (limited) consensus of researchers and writers on the subject, political crime is defined as ideologically motivated behavior that is legally defined as criminal. This definition includes crimes committed against the state as well as those committed by the state to the extent that they are in violation of a particular law. This includes civil and human rights violations committed by the police and governmental agents and agencies, but excludes individual and collective behaviors that may be immoral, questionable, or rooted in institutional racism, or practices that ensure that one group maintains power over another but have not (yet) been deemed illegal (Helfgott, 2008; p. 331).” 
 
A political crime was committed by the pro-Russian rebels located in Donetsk, Ukraine.  On July 17, 2014, Malaysian airline MH-17 was mysteriously shot down from the sky, killing all 298 passengers.  The pro-Russian rebels tampered with evidence and would not allow investigators near the crash sight.  Putin did nothing to help the investigations.  He made no attempt to ask the rebels to allow investigators to enter.  Nearly a week later investigators were allowed to enter and take the bodies.  The rebels had the same missile launcher that was used to take down the plane.  U.S. investigators believed the rebels shot the plane mistaking it for a Ukrainian plane.  Either way, it was a political crime. 


 
The rebels were ideologically motivated, because they are rebelling against the Ukrainian government.  The rebels have been battling Ukraine because they want Ukraine to give in to Putin.  They want to join Russia.  Their ideological motivation caused them to murder 298 innocent people.  Putin's aggression influenced these rebels to commit such a horrible crime.  Photographed below is a poster comparing Vladimir Putin to former soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

References

 

Ross, Jeffery. (2012). An Introduction to Political Crime. Policy Press, p.1

Helfgott, Jacqueline, (Ch. 9) in Criminal Behavior: Theories, Typologies, and Criminal Justice. Sage. p. 331

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10670603/Ukraine-in-pictures-Threat-of-war-between-Ukraine-and-Russia.html

http://www.vosizneias.com/148635/2013/12/08/kiev-ukraine-hundreds-of-thousands-again-hit-with-anti-govt-protest/

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/02/ukraine_protest_photos_police_and_protesters_clash_during_demonstrations.html

Ukraine and Russia: Background

Right now, a lot is going on between Ukraine and next-door-neighbor Russia.  Following is a quick summary of the issues both countries are having with each other.

The president of Ukraine was Viktor Yanukovych.
Ukraine citizens wanted Yanukovych to sign the Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement, which was, in short, a European trade and political deal.
Vladimir Putin (Russia's president) advised Yanukovych not to sign this agreement.
    Russia actually BRIBED Ukraine with $15 billion and a huge decrease in gas prices.
    Ukraine is in a recession and Russia is Ukraine's main source of oil.
    As a result: Yanukovych didn't sign!

Protesters went NUTS.
  Anti-protest laws were immediately passed, followed by anti-government protesters that disregarded these ridiculous laws! Example: one law stated simple protesting in front of a government building would result in 6 years of prison!

Yanukovych promised it was his MAIN OBJECTIVE (on several occasions) to sign this Agreement, and he didn't! 

Putin did not want Ukraine to sign an agreement with Europe, as he wishes to regain influence over ex-Soviet states.  Europe clearly wanted Ukraine as an ally.

On January 22nd, February 18th, 19th, and February 20th of 2014 protesters expressed their outrage.
The protests transformed from a stand against Yanukovych not signing the agreement to a stand against political corruption and police brutality.
The result was 108 deaths and 1,419 injuries.  Police (led by Yanukovych) were reportedly the most violent, containing several trained snipers attempting to "cleanse protesters".
    The attempt to "cleanse protestors" is a huge state political crime.  The state is           illegally murdering civilians in order to maintain power.


A woman wearing a Ukrainian flag stands at a memorial for people killed in clashes with the police at Kiev's Independence Square

Viktor Yanukovych fled Ukraine's capital of Kiev as protesters took over.

Yanukovych was then impeached for withdrawing unconstitutionally, being involved in a mass murder, corruption, and disregarded the constitution and laws several times!
     His impeachment did not follow the procedures of the Constitution of Ukraine.

Russia claimed Yanukovych was not properly impeached and condemned the new president and new government.  Yanukovych claims he is still president, but remains powerless.

Petro Poroshenko was elected the new president of Ukraine.  With him came a new government.  United States and Europe approves!



On February 26, 2014 Russia takes control of Crimean Peninsula.  Invading the country, taking over the parliament building, kicking out the prime minister and replacing him with a Russian politician, and replacing the Ukrainian flag at the parliament building with a Russian flag.  Photographed above is Vladimir Putin (center) and Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu (left).

    On February 28th, Yanukovych holds a press conference and calls on Putin to "restore         order" in Ukraine.

Crimea's population is majority Russian and Ukrainians make up the minority.  

On March 17th, Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and asks to join Russia.
     March 18th Crimea signed a treaty with Russia

March 27th UN claims this is ILLEGAL.

Crimea is internationally viewed as the Autonomous Republic of Ukraine as of 1991.  On April 15, Ukraine claims Crimea is a territory temporarily occupied by Russia.

On April 17th, Russian president Vladimir Putin confirmed Russian's involvement in Crimea.
     Putin says annexation of Crimea is "absolutely legal" and will NOT be reversed under            ANY circumstances.  Aggressive much?


May 12th Donetsk and Luhansk secede from Ukraine, taken over by pro-Russian rebels.

Pro-Russian fighters battle Ukrainian supporters.  Many have died.

Russia halts gas sales to Ukraine, unless Ukraine pays in advance.  Being that Ukraine's main source of gas is through Russia, this is a big hit.

On July 17th, 2014 Malaysian airline MH-17 is shot down above Ukraine by pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine.  Putin made no effort to help the situation as these rebel terrorists tampered with evidence and would not allow investigations to continue.
    298 people died. 
    U.S. officials say pro-Russian terrorists shot down MH-17 by mistake, assuming it 
    was a Ukrainian aircraft.
   This is a huge oppositional political crime. 

On August 4th, Ukraine sends 100 troops into Russia, but were forced to flee.

Constant battling has continued until recently.

On September 5th, NATO announces they are prepared to intervene with 4,000 troops.

On September 16th, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko signed the agreement with Europe, joining the Western mainstream away from Moscow.

Within the past week, Ukraine's president has talked of making agreements moving towards peace.  Possibly, allowing self-rule in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine for 3 years.

Nothing is yet settled.
Today, the death toll in Ukraine exceeds 3,000 people.

Clearly several political crimes have been committed by Russia and Ukraine's former pro-Russian president Yanukovych.  Oppositional crimes have been committed by the pro-Russian rebels located in Ukraine.


    

References

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/09/23/ukraine-says-cease-fire-being-upheld-on-both-sides/

http://csis.org/ukraine/index.htm#8

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303775504579393324230970300

http://www.news24.com/MyNews24/Summary-of-What-is-the-situation-with-Russia-Ukraine-and-Crimea-20140305

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/03/timeline-ukraine-political-crisis-201431143722854652.html

http://www.foreignpolicyi.org/content/fpi-fact-sheet-timeline-russian-aggression-ukraine-and-western-response?gclid=CPyTzIXz_MACFchgfgodWicACw

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11099647/After-years-of-turmoil-Ukraines-EU-agreement-is-a-moment-of-history.html