Yulia Marushevska: Ukrainians believed they had the power to change something

You became famous because of the film “I am a Ukrainian”. Over 8 millions people saw this film on the internet. Could you tell us the inside story of this film? To what extent it was an unrehearsed, spontaneous footage?
It was unrehearsed. I think I made two tries. It was too cold to make more than two tries. I just took a letter I wrote to my friend about the events in Ukraine, I was trying to read it when I was warming up in a cafe, put some thoughts together, then I called my friend, a photographer, he took the camera and filmed me on the barricade. It took me 20 minutes for everything. I came up with the idea for this movie when I was talking to my friends from other countries. I realized then that people in other countries didn’t know what was really happening in Ukraine. Not only they didn’t care about us but they even made us guilty for what was happening. It was so painful, and I was trying to find some way to spread this information. We made this short film and put it on the internet. It was a spontaneous decision, I didn’t expect such huge popularity.

Why did you go to Maidan? What was your motivation?
It was obvious for everyone who wants to live in a normal society that you have to go and defend your interests. All my friends were there. It was a normal reaction for illegal actions of the government. We didn’t ask ourselves “why do we have to go there?”. We just asked “what can we do?”.

What did you expect joining demonstrators?
Actually nothing. I just went there, because I felt it’s my duty to be there. We had to try to do something. We had to do a small first step and just try. For more than 3 years, we were just sitting, talking to each other and criticizing our government. That wouldn’t do anything. It was our last chance to change something.

So many people were killed on Maidan. Were you afraid about your life? About your family and friends? Didn’t you have a moment of doubt whether this all is worth of such a big risk?
I was afraid. Very often. All people were afraid. I was afraid about my life staying there, but of course I was afraid more about my family. My mom was there during most intense shootings. I asked her not to go there. I asked my brother to go to there and find her, because I couldn’t enter the city. I was outside Kiev and they closed the city completely. I think that the most important thing was that we all were there together. We didn’t have to go there, but we wanted to. Of course we were aware of the danger, but we made our small steps. Some of us were fighting, some of us were bringing hot tea or medicines. We were encouraging each other. When they started to throw Molotow cocktails and when first people were killed I went there to bring some medicines. It was terrifying. But I understood that those people were risking much more and they needed help. You had to forget about fear.

Many of people lost their friends and members of family, many were injured. Do you think it’s possible to overcome the scars of a conflict? Forgiveness and reconciliation?
First of all we are still in a conflict. We don’t want this fight against separatists and we don’t want people to be killed. We are a tolerant and peaceful nation. It would be better to find this moment of forgiveness and understanding but the problem is that another side thinks differently. Now it’s not a question of conflict. It’s a question of defense. You can forgive thousands of times but it’s for nothing, if someone comes and kills you. Our country and our future are in the balance now.

Who do you think is responsible for what happened?
I think the responsibility lies with everyone. It’s a consequence of years before that. Something provoked a situation when someone has to sacrifice their life for democratic values, for fighting against corruption. I don’t know, maybe we could have stopped it earlier…

What would you like to achieve? What’s your goal?
I want people not only know about Ukraine, but I want people to show their support. It really does matter. To fight against Yanukovych was a task for Ukrainians, it was our own challenge. But to fight against the Russian empire is not only our own challenge. Now it’s a competition between different human values. No one wants to live in a country, where citizens' rights are violated and you may be arrested for anything. We see them on our borders, they are doing what they want, sending provocateurs, destroying us from the inside, using their spies. And now we are feeling like we are alone in this fight. That’s why we need this support from other people. It’s easy to make small symbolic steps, but they are incredibly encouraging for us, incredibly important.

Do you feel betrayed by Russia? How do your relationships with Russian look like?
We have our long common history. The last straw poll about the attitude to Russian tells that 68% of Ukrainians are still taking Russians as a friendly nation. Because Ukrainians in general have a very tight connection to the Russian people and we have a friendly relationship, our attitude was friendly all the time. I was surprised that even now this attitude hasn’t changed. But I think, that’s even good, because we understand that it’s not about people in general, it’s more about politicians, government, brainwashing and the propaganda machine. Because it’s very hard to understand that those people who were your friends, or relatives are ready to fight and kill you because of Crimea or Donetsk. That’s ridiculous. I want to believe that’s just propaganda.

Is Ukraine really so split, as Russia wants us to believe? The eastern regions are pro Russian and western pro European?
I don’t believe some people are pro Russian or pro Ruropean. Each of us wants to be a citizen of a strong, prosperous Ukraine in the first place. Each of us wants to live in a prosperous home, in Ukraine. I think we inherited this split from the Soviet times, we have Ukrainian and Soviet people. Those who want to be Ukrainians and those who want to come back to the USSR. That’s impossible, and that’s why we have only one way to be Ukrainians.

Do you think that the last events have changed the awareness of the Ukrainian people in some way? Do they believe they can really change anything?
I think the most important change is that we believed we have the power to change something. The only thing that can move the world is the will to do something. And Ukrainians felt that they had the will to change their country. They had this will, and they followed it. That’s very important. But more important is not to lose it now. Some people seem to be demotivated. They were fighting, did their best, but they are tired now. On the other hand I see bright young people who are creating new organizations or doing something. They have this spirit of change and it’s very positive. The other thing is that people are aware of their rights and they want to be respected. What's changed is that no one asks for a bribe now. And it’s not because of political actions. People just understood that we do not want to play this game anymore. We want to live normally.

Aren’t you little disappointed by The European Union’s policy? The EU very carefully adopts restrictive measures against Russia. It might give the impression, that they are trying not to put their business with Russia at risk.
It seems that economical interests are very important for some politicians. For me it’s sad and surprising, because what future can expect for Europe, if now we place money above human values. If you chose money then what kind of union do you want to build? On what grounds, on what foundations?

Dou you think that diplomacy will be enough to put an end to this conflict?
I believe the diplomacy will end this conflict.

What if not? Do you take into the account the possibility of an armed conflict with Russia?
We show that our people are ready to fight for themselves. I’m not sure about our institutions, but I’m sure about our people.

You are one of the most famous faces of the Ukrainian revolution. The ambassador of the Ukrainian case. Why it’s you?
It’s just a coincidence. I’m just one of the Ukrainians. It’s a coincidence, but now I have to do my best to use this opportunity to talk to the world. If the world media plays this game then I have to spread the information to be useful for my country. That’s how I approach this situation. That’s a moment. Media today are interested in the Ukraine and the next day you have to be from space to be of interest for them. It happens. But my duty is to tell the world about the Ukraine, if I have this possibility.

You are very involved in fighting for your dreamed-of Ukraine. Aren’t you afraid?
Some people were not afraid to fight in Maidan and risk their lives. I will not be afraid to talk to the people. I have no right to be afraid after all those people sacrificed their lives.

Who are you? Who is Yulia Marushevska? What are you doing, when you are not fighting for Ukraine?
I’m just a normal girl. I’ve studied literature in Taras Shevchenko University, got a Ph.D. I love reading books, art, modern art mostly. This revolution was called the revolution of nerds, and I’m one of these nerds. There's nothing special about me. I go to parties, drink coffee with my friends. I love traveling.

What would you like to do in a few months, years? What are your dreams? Do you think about a political career?
I think that a political career can’t be a goal to achieve. If you can somehow help create prosperous country, it doesn’t matter who you are and what you do. For me it’s important how you achieve these result. The last few months changed a lot. A lot of people have new ideas and new goals. Before that I was dreaming to make a movie about a Ukrainian singer, Volodymyr Ivasyuk, who wrote Chervona Ruta. I was dreaming to show his beautiful story. But now there is no time for beautiful stories. Maybe one day…

What support would you expect from the ordinary people? How could we help you? What could we do for you?
Of course I thought about some practical steps towards Ukraine, like establishing some exchange programs. It’s important for young people from Ukraine to come to Europe and see with their own eyes what life in Europe looks like. But now it’s not about exchange programs, it’s about real support here and now. We need to know that ordinary people, not politicians, not diplomats but ordinary people are with us. Yell, yell as loud as you can, that you are with us. We have to hear that, because this spiritual help encourages us to stay strong. Do some little symbolic steps, something that we can see in Ukraine, like putting a blue-yellow flag on your facebook. Use the instruments you have. Be creative. If you are a journalist, write an article about Ukraine, if you are an artist, make a picture or sing a song. Today everyone who cares about human rights is Ukrainian. If you want to be free, if you are talking about freedom, you are Ukrainian. Because the biggest fight for freedom now is happening in Ukraine…

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY MARIUSZ MARTYNELIS