After reading political science professor Alexander Motyl’s recent fictions about what is happening in Ukraine, we wondered what induces such strong hallucinations.
He’s entitled to his opinion in favor of President Petro Poroshenko’s re-election on March 31. It’s a valid viewpoint that a majority of Ukrainians might share. But Motyl got too many things wrong in a Jan. 16, 2019, op-ed for the Atlantic Council to let him go unchallenged.
Motyl: “Ukraine’s problem is not that it hasn’t changed enough. It’s that it’s changed too much, too fast.”
The facts: No, the oligarchy remains. There’s still no justice or rule of law. There’s paltry foreign direct investment. Corruption and lack of competition reign in many sectors, including media. There’s no land market or increase in gas production, etc.
Motyl: “Ukraine has built a highly competitive army and military industrial complex and stopped Russia’s aggression in the southeast.”
The facts: Like all patriots of Ukraine, we hope this is the case. Kyiv Post journalists are frequently at the war front with these brave defenders. But the truth is, we don’t know. Regrettably, when Russia goes on the offensive, by land, sea and air, Ukraine too often comes up short.
Motyl: “Ukraine has moved decisively towards integration with the West and the world, as trade with Russia has fallen dramatically and foreign direct investment, much of which is Chinese, has grown.”
The facts: Even though Ukrainians have shown decisiveness in moving to the West (for millions, unfortunately, literally), political leaders have obstructed major reforms. By doing so, they have delayed aid and scared off investors. Russia remains Ukraine’s single largest investor and trade partner. FDI hovers around a measly $2 billion annually in recent years. China is not pouring investment into the nation. Instead, it has offered mainly low-interest loan packages.
Motyl: “Important steps have been taken to curb corruption.”
The facts: Nonsense. Much has been done, instead, to obstruct and stall the fight against corruption. No one has been found guilty of robbing any of the billions stolen from Ukrainians. The big fish have gotten away and many of them are still in business. The presidentially controlled prosecution and Security Service of Ukraine are unreformed, along with the Interior Ministry. The new anti-corruption agencies are either unformed, have limited powers, are thwarted or have been corrupted themselves. Unfinished court reform is marred by manipulations designed to keep politicians (or the highest briber) in charge of deciding who goes to jail and who wins court rulings.
Not everything Motyl wrote is untrue, but the falsehoods are so numerous that business editor Ilya Timtchenko runs them down in a detailed online op-ed. Motyl also engages in illogical condescension: “Most Ukrainians will insist that ‘nothing has changed’ and that the country is moving in the ‘wrong direction.’ These views are contradictory.”
No they are not, Motyl. Those of us who live here know what has changed for the better and what has not. Ukrainians are saying that too many of the fundamentals haven’t changed and, because of that, the country is still moving in the wrong direction. Motyl and a lot of people who share his deep disconnect from reality may be in for big surprises this year if Ukrainians get a free and fair chance to elect their leaders.
