+ Spheres of culture

PL ISSN 2300-1062 Spheres of Culture / Ed. by Ihor Nabytovych, 2014, Vol. 8.

Iryna Nabytovych

NARRATIVE SHAPING POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA: A NEW TURN OF UKRAINIAN PUBLIC SPHERE WITH # HASHTAG APPEARANCE

Ukrainian Catholic University of Lviv, Ukraine

Abstract: The whole organization and coordination of Euromaidan was exclusively conveyed through social networks and new media. Protests did not only form in the capi- tol but also in major and minor regions (Lviv, Ternopil, etc.), where local media centers were formed. Every minute they were informing people what was happening on Maidan, helping to coordinate and set an agenda for protesters. Constant updates went out even during the night. This way the virtual connection with Independence Square did not dis- appear for a moment, and like-minded citizens could follow events in real time using the hashtag #Euromaidan. Public opinion was formed by opinion leaders. Famous singers, rectors, professors of universities, popular public figures, and opposition leaders turned to young people on Facebook and Twitter. Most of the meaningful ideas were written by these opinion leaders and then reposted and retweeted by thousands of followers. There were not only short messages and calls by unknown people under the hashtag #Euromaidan, but also meaningful appeals encouraging young people (and later seniors) to mass participation in the protest. There formed a new powerful narrative, which shaped the majority opin- ion and brought it to a common goal. This goal was no longer simply joining the EU, but the preservation of the Ukrainian identity and the overthrow of the Yanukovych regime. For this study was used the method of qualitative content analysis of posts in Facebook. Keywords: social media, cyber protest, public sphere, #Euromaidan, opinion leaders, civic engagement

The deep apathy started in Ukraine into unrestrained outbreak of protests. with the establishment of the Yanu- To deepen our understanding of social kovych regime. It affected all aspects of media influence on political change life including the media and those who during the last events in Ukraine we had something valuable to say during need to see the larger context of on- the Orange Revolution became silent. line activism formation in Ukraine. In Pro-democratic journalists and blog- this research the power of narrative gers started believing that the period shaping of social media and it’s direct of dictatorship, oppression, and hu- connection with creating a new public miliation of Ukrainians will never end. sphere is debated. The President’s latest wrong move The movement for integration with turned the course of Ukrainian history European Union provoked a new turn in 180 degrees; which instantly turned the Ukrainian public sphere.

538 + Volume VІІІ, 2014 + The public sphere according to Jür- who take part in debate, criticism, and gen Habermas is considered a neutral develop oppositional discourses op- social space for critical debate among posite to dominant mainstream public private persons that gather to discuss is- sphere. They create oppositional iden- sues of common concern in a free, ratio- tities, social imaginaries, language, and nal, and in principle disinterested way interpretations. It helps in forming op- [7]. Habermas discusses the ups and positional networks which leads to downs of the bourgeois public sphere, more powerful oppositional discourses. underlining the problematic effects of The internet supports both: online and commercialization, capitalism, and the offline oppositional contest with domi- rise of mass media on rational-critical nant discourses and creates the contes- debate. Habermas’ arguments were tation of mainstream public sphere [7]. criticized, especially because he ideal- The communication through the ized the concept of the public sphere internet helped give opinion makers a centers supposing the idea of universal chance to use the persuasive power of access. Outlining the principle of public strategic narratives which can mobilize sphere we imply it as a synonym for the audiences without financial, material or public opinion process in new media military resources [4], [8]. themselves. Narratives are used to achieve de- According to Habermas’ model of sired objectives: defining identities, ex- a public sphere there is universality plaining everyone’s role in the world, across society, in which everyone has defining allies and enemies, explaining the right to have their voices heard and in the context historical events and po- assist in important democratic issues. litical decisions [2]. There are institutional preconditions Narratives do not exist separately for public sphere to exist: disregard- from those who produce them, they ing of status and common concern. The connect past and present. This way un- idea of public sphere is established on related events turn into coherent plot an objective form, independent from [15, 245]. authority status or rank. The informa- tion (as well as cultural products) be- Development of Cyber Protests came common concern of private citi- During the past decade we have zens and became a way of their delib- seen the power of new media, espe- eration [11]. cially social media, to change dictato- Unlike mass media the internet be- rial regimes all over the world. Since came a force for radical democracy. It ‘color’ revolutions in Ukraine, Iran, and helps groups which are excluded from the Arab world the protesters have been the mainstream public sphere to create using online space for spreading infor- their own discussion forums, connect, mation, fund raising, and mobilization and produce new dominant ideas and [16]. Hot debates about the role of the practices. [Here the internet provides internet had been divided during “Twit- the space for communication inside ter rebellion” in Iran in 2009. The sup- marginalized discourse and helps them porters of revolutions online were la- to develop an ‘alternative’ group which beled ‘cyber utopians’. At the same time, consists of a number of participants the preoccupation with the ‘networks’

+ 539 + Spheres of culture has appeared when discussing political testers. This role is embraced by pro- organizations [13]. gressive opinion leaders, professionals, Now the internet is the alternative trusted military representatives, and medium to propaganda models of state known activists. controlled media. It played a main role Up to the last events in Ukraine in mobilizing activists for spontaneous many of the researchers stated that so mass protests. It is used for public ac- far the internet didn’t lead to any suc- tion even in such repressive countries cessful revolutions. Some say it can in- like Egypt, China, Iran, and Russia. So- form, provide a forum for debate, and cial media is used for providing con- mobilize, but it cannot provide leader- stant flow of information for mobilizing ship and organization to support politi- the social opposition. cal action and a strategy for taking state Social and political movements power [18]. have all chances not only to arise on- line as a reaction to external stimuli Changes in Ukrainian Public Sp- (such as a reaction to unfair elections), here but also develop and mature to radi- In Ukraine the internet created an cal action, exerting influence on civic alternative media sphere. The use of so- opinion and rhetoric in official media. cial media helped consolidate the peo- Before Web 2.0 was invented there was ple in no longer being indifferent to the no media that has been so interactive, fate of Ukraine. The President’s refusal person-centered, highly used, and open to sign an association agreement with for public access. Probably for the first the EU, raised a wave of indignation on time, mankind is spontaneously mov- Facebook marked with hashtag #Euro- ing towards a nonlinear, self-organizing maidan. Due to this exhortation in social democratic governance [10]. networks hundreds of thousands of an- Social networks provide the com- gry citizens, who were ready to defend munications platform for activists. The their own future, spilled out on to Inde- internet contributes to the develop- pendence Square in Kyiv. These citizens mental activities of opposition groups didn’t leave after the Vilnius summit, and ideological movements outside the but rather reinvigorated by the cruel mainstream. At present it enables civil beatings of peaceful activists at night society to participate in the political life on November 30, came to the square in of a country with no natural affiliation even greater numbers. to a political party or organization. So Researching the changes in Ukrai- there is the concept of ‘cyber protest’, nian public sphere with #Euromaidan which is defined as “a new field for so- hashtag appearance we manage to cial movement that reflects the role of discover three important aspects. The alternative online media, online pro- whole organization and coordination of tests and online communication in soci- Euromaidan was exclusively conveyed ety” [14]. through social networks and new me- For oppositional movements the in- dia. Protests did not only form in the ternet is the most important source of capitol but also in major and minor objective alternative information, espe- regions (Lviv, Ternopil, etc.), where lo- cially in educating and mobilizing pro- cal media centers were formed. Every

540 + Volume VІІІ, 2014 + minute they were informing people under the hashtag #Euromaidan, but what was happening on Maidan, help- also meaningful appeals encourag- ing to coordinate and set an agenda for ing young people (and later seniors) protesters and fundraising. Constant to mass participation in the protest. updates went out even during the night. There formed a new powerful narrative, This way the virtual connection with In- which shaped the majority opinion and dependence Square did not disappear brought it to a common goal. This goal for a moment, and like-minded citizens was no longer simply joining the EU, could follow events in real time using but the preservation of the Ukrainian the hashtag #Euromaidan. It was espe- identity and the overthrow of the Yanu- cially noticeable right after the violent kovych regime. beating of students on November 30th, when the main squares of Kyiv and oth- Opinion Leaders and Interpre- er cities of Ukraine had gathered around tive Microcommunities a million people, following instructions Communication in social networks they received from social media. These is constructed in such a way that peo- people came out in raging support after ple listen to the opinions of those they seeing the video of the police’s violent know and trust. These can be friends, suppression of a peaceful demonstra- close relatives, work colleagues, or rep- tion on Facebook and YouTube. utable people. There are many studies Not only was the official group of about „interpretive communities“ and Euromaidan on Facebook operating „interpretive microcommunities“ [4], during revolutionary action. There were [5], [9], [12], [17], [19] that show that established hundreds of other groups the determining factors of personal po- responsible for different needs of Eu- litical decision making are preferences romaidan: logistics, security, medicine, of friends and relatives, not political ads transportation, and or speeches of politicians. Therefore, business boycott mode. It should be the decision to support the political par- noted that in these groups, the hashtag ty or participate in a protest often de- #Euromaidan was used constantly. pends on what your friends think about However, it quickly disappeared from it. That’s why the role of social networks the private update status of opinion in critical social situations is crucial. leaders. The appeal of Klitschko/Yatsenuk/ The third and crucial point is that Tiagnybok/Lutsenko does not have a public opinion was formed by opinion greater effect on whether a person will leaders who were truly leaders for the come out to protest, but whether their youth. Famous singers, rectors, profes- friends or people whom they trusts are sors of universities, popular public fig- willing to do that. There are users who ures, and opposition leaders turned to have a large audience of supporters. So young people on Facebook and Twitter. when Mustafa Nayem, Roman Shrayk, Most of the meaningful ideas were writ- Andriy Shevchenko, Lesya Orobets, ten by these opinion leaders and then and hundreds of other influential peo- reposted and retweeted by thousands ple have written that they are going to of followers. There were not only short Maidan – thousands of people came out messages and calls by unknown people as well because they trust them.

+ 541 + Spheres of culture Investigating this problem we assume and activist Mustafa Nayem and human that Euromaidan was not formed spon- rights activist and MP Lesya Orobets. taneously, it emerged and existed thanks The third one according to Facebook to the public opinion leaders who filled is MP Anatoliy Hrytsenko, but we have it up with ideological content during all chosen only the second position for MP three months of confrontation. Representatives. Others are: a social activist, politician, and commandant of Methodology Maidan’s self-defence units Andriy Pa- In this study we will investigate how rubiy, a representative of showbiz Rus- the information from the streets became lana Lyzhychko, a historian Volodymyr a narrative of social networks, was then Viatrovych, clergyman and at the same modified, changed, overlapped with time the university community repre- other messages, and returned back on sentative Bishop Borys Gudziak. In the the Maidan for activists’ approval. For study we analysed around 30 updates that we have chosen three main periods of each opinion leader written during of Euromaidan, all of them are connect- above stated period. The closest atten- ed with crucial dates of its existence tion was paid to the ones written dur- (Peaceful protest and first Presidential ing 21–30.11.2013, 16–22.01.2014 and violence 21–30.11.2013; official dicta- 18–22.02.2014. These people invoked torship establishment 16–22.01.2014; masses to join the protest against the regime’s overthrown 18–22.02.2014). president’s decision not to sign an as- For the study we used a selection sociation agreement with the European from Facebook status updates archive Union, and later to fight the dictator- of public opinion leaders made during ship, the embodiment of which was the stated above periods. We are going to former president of Ukraine Viktor Ya- use quality analysis method for analyz- nukovych, till he was overthrown. ing the Facebook status updates and publications of public opinion leaders. Peaceful Protest 21.11–30.11 We will be grouping the Facebook sta- Euromaidan began on November tuses with categorization according to 21st, 2013 right after the announcement their radicalization. by the Ukrainian President the suspen- We used survey data on Facebook sion of preparations for the signing of under https://apps.facebook.com/maid- an association agreement with the EU. an_leader/. Among them, we chose one It started with an appeal which the most leader from various fields of social and popular Ukrainian Facebook user Mus- political life of the country, and whose tafa Nayem (over 100 thousand follow- thoughts were often reposted by Euro- ers) (http://watcher.com.ua/facebook- maidan official Facebook page, which reiting/) wrote on his Facebook page. currently has nearly 300,000 fans. Pre- He announced a meeting next to the requisite for selection was the presence Independence Monument. This entry of the leader on Facebook. was liked by 4.5 thousand people and Out of the three most popular Ukrai- shared by 3.3 thousand of them. nian users of Facebook, and the very MP (over 40 thou- active figures of Euromaidan, we took sands followers) responded to the call into account the first two: journalist saying: “I going to Maidan now! These

542 + Volume VІІІ, 2014 + are days that define the future of the to the target audience by asking rhetori- state. Today is the day. If we do not care cal questions: “Progressive citizens are how then we explain to our children already on Maidan! What about you?”, that we have betrayed their future? See “Ukraine – is Europe! That’s what pro- you there!” Another MP, and the second testers shouting and waiting for you!”. most popular Ukrainian Facebook user, He constantly emphasized that on Maid- Lesya Orobets (almost 70 thousand fol- an youth dance and sing the songs of fa- lowers) also joined Maidan saying: “Ei- mous bands, trying to convey the atmo- ther #Euromaidan or a suitcase. Each sphere of «the excited, but the fighting person chooses for oneself”. And later: spirit» as he wrote in many status up- “Thanks to those who came on the first dates. Even the ones like: «And here are day. It was incredible to see how Maidan served huge pizzas. Everywhere around started from a few dozens and just like here is lots of fun. Get involved!» that gather #Euromaidan of 2000 thou- Meanwhile most rectors of univer- sands of people. It was as if an actual liv- sities went on strike and announced the ing Facebook”. decision to join the protest. Bishop Bo- The next ten days, until the night rys Gudziak (a president of Ukrainian of November 30th 2013, armed with ba- Catholic University) wrote on his Face- tons, stun grenades, and tear gas, Ber- book page: «For the sake of our youth we kut special police units attacked and dis- urge academia community not to be in- persed all protesters from Maidan Ne- different and publicly express their civic zalezhnosti. During this time there was position defending the European future an active Facebook campaign to join the of Ukraine». A similar statement was peaceful protest, in order to affect the also made by Sergey Kvit (a president President’s decision and thereby per- of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy). On No- suade him to sign an association agree- vember 24th more than 100 000 people ment with the EU. These days, Mustafa came to Maidan in Kyiv, and over 20 000 Nayem urged to join Maidan appealing in Lviv. Also protests were held in most to the human senses, and stressing that major cities of Ukraine. From 21st to 28th they - the leaders, also will be there: “I November #Euromaidan hashtag was know that the weather is ugly, cold and the most popular in Ukraine. The inten- wet. Just do it. Get out of the apartments sity of the publication using it reached and offices, take an umbrella, smiles, 1500–3000 messages per hour. (http:// friends, relatives, thermos of tea, coffee, watcher.com.ua/2013/11/29/yevro- wear rubber boots and come. We all will maydan-ukrayinska-tsyfrova-revoly- be here”. Meanwhile Orobets announced utsiya-ta-ostanniy-shans-analohovym- the information about the measures politykam-staty-tsyfrovymy/). taken for Maidan logistics and also en- couraged its spread, giving people ideas After the Crackdown what they can do: “competently and The initial phase of Euromaid- massive word-of-mouth dissemination an passed basically without political of information that everyone should slogans and symbols. It was a grass- come to #Euromaidan”. roots movement of mainly students, a Parubiy had written short messag- younger generation that wants to live es using language motivators relevant in Ukraine and supports Ukrainian in-

+ 543 + Spheres of culture tegration into the European community. destroy the enemy because no one can This was to begin a new historical turn hide from it. “I encourage all to spread in Ukrainian public sphere. For Ukraini- information about overclocking and ans this means the implementation and beating, so it would be is immediately in enforcement of civil liberties, especially all possible ways the Internet and social freedom of speech, freedom of gather- networks. Videos, photos, testimonies, ings, and freedom of civic engagement. stories - all deadly weapons to criminal This in turn is a new coming public foun- authorities.” dation of political democracy. Namely, Meanwhile Mustafa Nayem wrote the first who came out on Maidan were on his Facebook: “Last night I made active social-media savvy users, youth my choice. I do not want to live in sup- who have no complexes and frustra- pressed country. I am disgusted with tions of previous generations, and peo- any fear, especially the fear of violence ple who believe in the right to have a enforced by batons and animal power. I better life in their country. do not care if someone calls this protest The protests had all chances to de- ‘political, and those who encourages it cease right after the Vilnius summit. – ‘politicians’. Today it does not matter On Maidan the night after there was who struggle for freedom, it is impor- almost no protesters left, just a few tant – to win. So tomorrow at 12:00 I hundred protesters, mostly students. will come to the monument to Taras The authorities ordered to “clean up” Shevchenko in Kyiv. I will come primar- Maidan of people for installing the gi- ily as a journalist and as a citizen”. This gantic Christmas tree. For that purpose post collected over 4000 likes and was Berkut violently assaulted protesters in reposted over 3500 times. the middle of the night and took many After that night A. Parubiy took re- of them to jail. Others managed to run sponsibility for the defence of Maidan: away and hide in the church nearby. “#Euromaidan. There are still thou- This was supposed to suppress peoples’ sands of people there. The self-defense opposition and frighten them from tak- units are formed. They are standing on ing part in protests. However since all the outer perimeter with building and violent beatings were caught on camer- ski helmets on, lined up in ranks. Shoul- as and spread throughout social media der to shoulder. We won’t permits to and some pro-Ukrainian media outlets, beat our girls, – they say. This nigh ‘ani- the next day even more people came mals’ won’t catch us by surprise”. out onto the streets. The prerequisite Since that time every Sunday in to that were the words of some lead- Kyiv gathered a meeting, each a size ers, because they were reposted and of several hundred thousand people. retweeted by followers, as well as offi- Every meeting was beforehand an- cial #Euromaidan group. nounced by informal leaders in social Lyzhychko said it aloud media and reposted by their followers. that the President launched a war In addition activists began to build bar- against his own people and asked stu- ricades on Maidan that with each Ber- dents to accept the challenge. She an- kut attack became higher and stronger. nounced that the main weapon nowa- About this constantly were announcing days is information which was going to and analyzing in oppositional media

544 + Volume VІІІ, 2014 + and Maidan informal opinion leaders their families; adoption of laws on ex- in their appeals on the personal pages tremism. in social networks. Despite the fact that After the swift passage of laws the Berkut kept attacking the activists aimed solely at tearing down civil liber- and police carried out arrests during ties, mass repressions began immedi- the riots and injured activists, journal- ately. Berkut intensified attacks aimed ists, and doctors, more and more people at activists in the center of Maidan, and joined the protest. the other mercenaries “titushky” caught After one month on Maidan Musta- people on the perimeter of Maidan or fa Nayem wrote that the biggest victory outside the square and beat many to is that people came out on protest “de- death. spite the disappointment, apathy, and Three days later Lesya Orobets mistrust”. He wished Ukrainians to be announced that the war officially had patient, do not wait for quick wins and started. She said that law didn’t apply in not to restrict #Euromaidan with Kyiv, Ukraine any more. She made live report- but take more active part in other cities ages from Independence Square, prov- as well. ing that Berkut was using real grenades. During holiday season when there She was beaten up as well as her assis- was less people on Maidan Parubiy and tants. Orobets affirmed that from that others kept giving updates on Maidan moment the Ministry of Internal Affairs life, writing: “Join up! Maidan needs was going to use all methods to protect you”. the dictatorship. Five days later Nayem Bishop Gudziak wrote on his Face- wrote about the kidnap of another well book that one priest said during the Ad- know oppositional activist and opinion vent fast (‘post’ in Ukrainian) ‘one has maker Ihor Lutsenko. He asked every- to post a lot of truth in social media’. one to do what depends on them, saying that “If we obey, tomorrow on his place The Official Dictatorship Estab- could be anyone”. lishment 16–22.01.2014 After clashes during January 19th to On January 16, 2014 in the Parlia- 22nd there was approximately 5 killed ment of Ukraine in violation of estab- and dozens of injured. The President lished voting procedure there were gave protesters almost a one month adopted 10 laws aimed at narrowing deadline to get out of Maidan, free Hru- the constitutional rights and freedoms, shevskoho str., and leave all administra- namely: restrictions on freedom of tive buildings. peaceful gatherings; restrictions on Ruslana Lyzhychko was still lead- freedom of expression in offline and on- ing opposition from the stage and on his line media; register as “foreign agents” Facebook page. She over and over again organizations receiving assistance from was writing Facebook statuses saying foreign organizations and individuals, that we need to stand your ground and the introduction of tax mechanisms demand the resignation of Yanukovych. limiting financial support for civic en- In her mind it was the only way we gagement; prohibition of gathering in- could prevent bloodshed. She had been formation about the financial position encouraging people to believe in their of judges, law enforcement officers and power and come to Maidan as much as

+ 545 + Spheres of culture possible. Especially for the ‘night shifts’ Regime is Overthrown 18– when most people are home asleep. She 22.02.2014 said “I appeal to all: we need to maxi- The final escalation of the Presi- mum mobilization!”. dent’s war against Ukrainians started During the short armistice Parubiy on February 18. Battles lasted for 4 shared the positive sides of Maidan with days, and by the end of it almost 100 his Facebook readers saying that people people killed and around 1000 wound- who stay there are just wonderful and ed. Lesya Orobets was turning to people Maidan itself is a prototype of the ideal on Facebook again telling them about state with free medicine, with the army situation: “Around the fire, explosions, everyone loves and respects, with mu- smoke, pools of blood, moaning wound- tual support and self-organization. ed, church bells, ice water, gunshots Also he was encouraging educated and explosions, the stench of gasoline and thinking men to join up the opposi- breaks and spirit, conquering the smell tion movement. One of the stories was of burnt rubber. I can not believe I’m about Commissioner Füle who started on Maidan, the main square of the city talking to men from Maidan there about where I lived all my life” and asking geopolitics in English. With helmets on, Ukrainians to arise, saying: “Life with- armored with shields and sticks there out dignity is not worth living”. This were scientists, writers, successful en- statement was liked and shared over 4.5 trepreneurs, students of prestigious thousand times. universities - educated intelligent peo- Protesters were crying out loud to ple. “They left their offices, research pa- passive Ukrainians that what is happen- pers, business, and suits at home. And ing here is not acceptable, and everyone now look more like Vikings or medieval should come and at least support. This knights. Everyone knows that here on began the open accusations that the the Maidan the fate of Ukraine is decid- President is responsible for the deaths of ed”. Another observation was made by the protestors. On February 19th Nayem Canadian journalist who told Parubiy said that “accusing protesters in armed that foreign journalists have a popular resistance and holding them responsible joke: “If you come across samooborona for the deaths of dozens, Viktor Yanu- (‘self-defence’) activist on the Maidan in kovych appears as a rapist complaining a mask - he definitely has at least two about his disobedient victim”. This state- higher education degrees and speaks ment was shared 4.5 thousand times. fluent English”. Lesya Orobets summarized the These Facebook posts were liked presidential actions for Ukrainians and and shared over 10 thousand times. the world saying that the actions of the At the same time Volodymyr Viatro- police and the government-hired thugs vych wrote more radical updates saying (‘titushky’) have been extremely violent. that Yanukovych was going to lose. First Berkut and Interior troops have been the control of the majority in parlia- shooting protestors with real ammuni- ment, just as he lost it in relation to the tion. Berkut forces have been shooting opposition. He had never been able to from the rooftops and throwing gre- take over Maidan. nades into the crowd. Dozens of people are severely injured, lots of eye injuries

546 + Volume VІІІ, 2014 + and headshots, many have been killed. something new”. It was the summary of Yanukovych and his allies have organ- all three months of revolution escala- ised a deliberate provocation and a trap tion, violence, hope and victory, which for protesters. Orobets was stating that received over 12 thousands likes. Ruslana Yanukovych has never intended to make Lyzhychko, who was writing rather emo- any concessions from the very begin- tional appeals to people, said that she is ning. All muddling around the political begging Ukrainians not to forget what the process, behind the scenes negotiations murdered ones were fighting for. on amendments to the Constitution. Lesya Orobets promised that the Presi- Conclusions dent’s scenario was to settle fear into This qualitative analysis of opinion hearts of Ukrainians, completely pull- leaders’ status updates on Facebook un- ing out any thought of defending their der hashtag #Euromaidan during Ukrai- rights would not succeed. This post was nian 2013 – 2014 winter revolution made on February 20th and had over 7 shows that they were changing from thousands shares in Ukrainian and Eng- mild and rather peaceful towards radi- lish. In the next post she urged people calization, which in turn was reflecting to rise up against any truce with Yanu- the situation on the streets of Kyiv and kovych, it was supported with 2 thou- the whole Ukraine. As the conflict had es- sands likes and 4 thousands shares. calated in Ukraine the appeals to active On February 21st, the day after al- civic position became more open and most 100 people were killed Andriy Pa- calls to come and join Maidan became rubiy wrote on his Facebook: “Just had more forthright. The opinion makers a conversation with Lieutenant General statuses in social media contained not Konoplianyk. Kyiv garrison of inter- only appeals to gather on Maidan, eye- nal troops declared willingness to fully witness information and facts about the comply with the decisions of Maidan.” protests, but also guidelines how to be- When it became clear that despite have in the situation of conflict, where’s the losses and casualties, Maidan man- the help of activists needed, how to stay aged to overthrow the regime and the warm when it’s – 20o C outside and even dictator fled the capital, the Maidan how to stay alive during Berkut and riot leaders were first to set the tone to the police’s bloody attacks. In the narrative masses. Bishop Gudziak quoted the bi- of opinion leaders was expressed all the ble “There is no greater love than to lay civic discontent with the political situa- down one’s life for one’s friends” (John tion in Ukraine and given direct options 15 : 13) encouraged everyone, especial- to actions to follow. They were changing ly journalists, to create the live stories together with events toward radical- of these martyrs who gave their lives for ization and intolerance to state power. our dignity and freedom. This comment When great numbers of their readers was shared over 7 thousand times. comprehended the opinion leaders nar- Lesya Orobets shared the realization rative, passed the information forward, that a new country had been born. And and started joining the revolution we Mustafa Nayem, the activist who basi- could observe the formation of a new cally started the revolution wrote on his public sphere in Ukraine in both online Facebook: “It’s over. Now we have to build and offline space.

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