Repeat Offenders: Giuliani Heading to Ukraine To Dig Dirt On Biden For Trump

Rudy Giuliani

The New York Times is reporting that Donald Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, has announced plans to travel to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, in order to dig up dirt against former Vice President Joe Biden.

Yes, that would be encouraging and accepting help from a foreign nation for a U.S. election.

This sounds familiar...

Rudolph W. Giuliani, President Trump’s personal lawyer, is encouraging Ukraine to wade further into sensitive political issues in the United States, seeking to push the incoming government in Kiev to press ahead with investigations that he hopes will benefit Mr. Trump.

Mr. Giuliani said he plans to travel to Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, in the coming days and wants to meet with the nation’s president-elect to urge him to pursue inquiries that allies of the White House contend could yield new information about two matters of intense interest to Mr. Trump.

One is the origin of the special counsel’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. The other is the involvement of former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s son in a gas company owned by a Ukrainian oligarch.

I know we’ve become numb to the corruption of this Administration, but this story should be the total focus of the political class today. The President is openly asking a foreign government to investigate his political rival. This is next level. https://t.co/pboUJuCPoj

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) May 10, 2019

Trump is sending Giuliani to Ukraine to get its government to help Trump win reelection by hurting Joe Biden’s family. Read that a few times and ask yourself: How is that not an impeachable offense in broad daylight?

— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) May 10, 2019

Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer to the president of the United States, is openly pressing a foreign government to pursue investigations that Trump allies hope could help him in his re-election campaign.

"That information will be very, very helpful to my client."https://t.co/ZYil0vKYtL

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 10, 2019

Kiev Pride: Hundreds Of Riot Police Swarm & Tear Gas Anti-LGBT Protesters

Kiev Pride Parade (image via Instagram/Yura Dvizhhon)

Prior to the start of Kiev's Pride Parade today, Ukrainian police swarmed, tear-gassed and arrested 56 anti-LGBT protesters who had attempted to block a portion of the parade route.

From Reuters:

Ukrainian police said they had detained 56 members of far-right radical groups in Kiev on Sunday after scuffles before the capital’s gay pride march. Early in the morning, more than 150 far-right protesters had sought to block off the route of the march through central Kiev.

Small clashes broke out when police in riot gear moved to clear the street. “Several men who resisted and used gas canisters against law enforcement officers were detained,” the police said in a statement.

Far-right group C14 said police had surrounded its protesters, attacking them with batons and tear gas. “Look at how they protect ‘sexual minorities’ and violate the rights of regular Kiev citizens,” it said in a post on Facebook. More people were detained in a subsequent altercation near the Opera House, police said.

Fortunately, the parade then went off without any further incident. According to organizers, there were over 6,000 participants in the Pride vent.

Check out the first video below shot from a drone. No sound, but its amazing to get a clear view of how many riot police were there and how they surround and then move the protesters.

The second video shows the celebrants at the parade.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

Ukraine: Gay Couple Attacked While Recreating "Walking While Gay" Video

From Bird In Flight:

Last week the creators of ChebuRussia TV published a video that documented how people in Moscow reacted to two young men walking around the city holding hands. The video has more than eight million views by now.

This experiment was widely discussed in Ukraine as well, and some speculated on whether the reaction to a similar couple in, say, Kyiv would be different.

Bird In Flight decided to see for themselves and filmed Zoryan and Tymur walking in crowded public spaces.

We can see that most of the people have a neutral opinion, they show no particular interest. This proves that the confrontation is between the two minorities.

The only problem is that one of the minorities is excessively aggressive. I think that law enforcement should start the so called ‘safari’ on aggressors, because the latter are discriminating against Ukrainians, popularizing violence and are making it clear with their actions and statements that law enforcement is insignificant to them and the aggression will remain unpunished.

Talent: Duo Flame "It's A New Day"

Of course, hubby Michael and I start every day with a few moves like this.

These kids are amazing. They go by the name "Duo Flame" and the world pretty much discovered them when they wowed audiences as finalists on Ukraine's Got Talent.

Ukraine Prime Minister announces resignation

Never a good sign in the middle of hostile engagements...

Over 100 AIDS experts were on Malaysia Airlines flight shot down over Ukraine

A large number of world-renowned AIDS researchers and activists heading to an international AIDS conference in Australia were on board a Malaysian jetliner that was shot down over Ukraine, officials said Friday, as news of their deaths sparked an outpouring of grief across the global scientific community.

There have been unconfirmed reports that up to 100 people on board the Boeing 777 were en route to the Victoria state capital of Melbourne to attend the 20th International AIDS conference, which starts Sunday, Victoria Premier Denis Napthine said, though he hastened to add that reports were conflicting and it was far too premature to give a precise figure.

The plane, which was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, crashed Thursday with 298 people on board. American intelligence authorities believe a surface-to-air missile brought the aircraft down but it was not yet clear who fired it.

- from ABC News

Malaysian Airlines flight shot down over eastern Ukraine

All major news sources are reporting a Malaysia Airlines flight, traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, has crashed in eastern Ukraine:

Malaysia Airlines confirmed that it lost contact with Flight 17 and that the plane's last known position was over Ukrainian airspace, the airline said on Twitter.

The aircraft was "shot down" over Ukraine by "terrorists" operating a Buk surface-to-air missile system, according to the Facebook page of Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry. There were 280 passengers killed as well as 15 crew members, Gerashchenko's post reads.

"We do not exclude that the plane was shot down and confirm that the Ukraine Armed Forces did not fire at any targets in the sky," Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said, according to his website.

Crimea becomes a part of Russian Federation

President Putin & Crimean PM sign treaty to accept #Crimea into Russian Federation http://t.co/WS21kmgNir #Крым pic.twitter.com/U6fqUUtqiF

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 18, 2014

President Obama announces sanctions against officials in the Russia for ties to unrest in Crimea

President Obama today announced sanctions against specific officials in the Russian government for their support of Crimea's vote to secede from Ukraine in the most comprehensive sanctions against Russia since the end of the Cold War:

The sanctions are some of the most comprehensive placed on Russia since the Cold War. While they do not target Putin directly, that are aimed at individuals in his inner circle in the Russian government.

The measures are directed against 11 individuals, including Vladislav Surkov, a close adviser to Putin, Dmitry Rogozin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, a Valentina Matviyenko, a senior lawmaker and chair of the upper house of parliament, and Viktor Yanukovych, the ousted former president of Ukraine.

Following a "referendum" in the region of Crimea, which has been occupied by Russian troops, Obama warned Putin in a phone call that the results, which overwhelmingly went in favor of Crimea joining Russia, would "never be recognized by the United States and the international community."

According to a senior US official there will be further sanctions if Russia acts to formally recognize the referendum and annex Ukraine.

The European Union has announced assets freezes and travel bans for 21 individuals linked to the unrest in Crimea.

(via ABC News)

President Obama signs executive order allowing government to "freeze" assets of Russian officials

President Obama issued an executive order on Thursday allowing his administration powers to freeze U.S.-based financial assets and property of Russian officials found to be responsible for Russia's current military aggression against Ukraine.

Administration officials did not name specific individuals who will be targeted or how many would be sanctioned. They said the executive order will allow Treasury Department officials to freeze the assets of those who undermine democracy, peace and territorial integrity in Ukraine, those who misappropriate state assets and those who seize power without authorization from the interim government in Kiev.

A spokesman for House Speaker John A. Boehner's office said: "We welcome this first step, but remain committed to working with the administration to give President Obama as many tools as needed to put President Putin in check as well as prevent Russia from infringing on the sovereignty of any of its other neighbors."

The President has also called on Congress to approve a $1 billion aid package to Ukraine. The House will vote on that request on Thursday.

(via Washington Post)

American Family Association radio host says Putin invaded Ukraine because of the "sissification" of US military

American Family Association radio host Kevin McCullough blames the Ukraine crisis on the "sissification" of the US military.

(via Right Wing Watch)

Russia Today anchor Abby Martin closes broadcast by blasting actions against Ukraine

The word "courageous" doesn't even begin to address RT anchor Abby Martin's op-ed on yesterdays Russia Today close.

Martin took the last few minutes of her broadcast last night to say, in part:

"Just because I work here for RT doesn't mean I don't have editorial independence and I can't stress enough how strongly I am against any state intervention in a sovereign nation's affairs. What Russia did was wrong..."

"The coverage I've seen of the Ukraine is truly disappointing from all sides of the media spectrum and rife with disinformation."

"Above all my heart goes out to the Ukrainian people who are now wedged as pawns in a global power chess game.  They're the real losers here."

It's worth noting that RT is funded by the Russian Government.

Ukraine appeals to United Nations to stop Russia

Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations asked an emergency session of the Security Council in New York yesterday "to do everything possible now" to stop Russia's "aggression" as its troops took over the strategic Crimea region.

But action by the UN's most powerful body appears unlikely.

As a permanent member, Russia has veto power and can block the Council from adopting any resolution criticising or sanctioning Moscow.

In a phone call, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to "urgently engage in direct dialogue with the authorities" in Kiev.

US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power told the Council it was "time for the Russian military intervention in Ukraine to end."

(via The Telegraph)

President Obama speaks to Russian President Putin for 90 minutes about Ukraine situation

President Obama talks on the phone with President Putin about situation in Ukraine (WH/Pete Souza) pic.twitter.com/SduAQl90FT @CBSEveningNews

— NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) March 1, 2014

President Obama addresses escalating events in Ukraine

President Barack Obama spoke Friday on the situation in Ukraine, saying there would "be costs for any military intervention" in the country.

Ukraine in turmoil as Parliament removes President from office

From CNN: Embattled Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych insisted in an interview aired on Ukrainian TV Saturday that he is not resigning and not leaving the country.

Around the same time, an opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, was freed from prison.

Ukraine's Parliament voted unanimously to remove Yanukovych from office. It's not clear if this is binding.

The Parliament also voted to hold new elections on May 25, a key opposition demand.

At the heart of the protests is a trade pact. For a year, President Viktor Yanukovych insisted he was intent on signing a historical political and trade agreement with the European Union. But on November 21, he decided to suspend talks with the EU.

Street protests that started in November over the trade pact have swelled into something much bigger -- a demand that the President loosen his grip on power and the constitution be changed. As a result, the eastern European country is in the midst of a wave of anti-government protests, the likes of which it hasn't seen in 10 years.

More at CNN.