The article originally appeared at German Economic News. Translated for RI by Anita Zalaldinova
It is the first time when a German documentary about the fire attack on the Trade Unions House in Odessa appeared. It presents the eyewitnesses and victims' families speaking about the tragedy. The instigators of the murders have not been tracked down yet.
Last Wednesday the premiere of the documentary ‘Wildfire’ took place in Berlin cinema Moviemento. The film, which deals with the fire attack on Trade Unions House in Odessa in May 2014, was produced by the German journalist Ulrich Heyden and filmmaker Marco Benson.
Heyden and Benson invited several eyewitnesses to speak in their film to describe the events from their perspective. Among them there are also people who are close to the victims. Till date it remains unclear whether the attacks were organized or proceeded spontaneously.
Some eyewitnesses say in the film that Andriy Parubiy, who is also known as the ‘Commander of the Maidan’, could have been in Odessa two days before the attacks on the Trade Unions House. In February 2015 the BBC revealed that Parubiy could have been involved into the massacre on Maidan. Other eyewitnesses tell that there were provocateurs in Odessa from both sides. Parubiy is now the deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament and member of the party set up by the Americans for the professional politician and banker Arseniy "Jaz" Yatsenyuk.
As real instigators, among others, Nikolai Volkov from the Right Sector and Andrei Jusov of the Klitschko-party ‘Udar’ are named by locals. Volkov can be seen on several recordings, as he shoots at the Trade Unions House shortly before the attacks.
On May 2, 2014, in the city of Odessa there were clashes between supporters and opponents of the Maidan movement. In the course, a group of anti-Maidan supporters took refuge in the local Trade Unions House and barricaded themselves. The Maidan supporters gathered in front of the building and attacked it with Molotov cocktails. The building flamed up. 48 people were killed.
According to eyewitnesses, interviewed in the documentary, 56 people died. In addition, more than 40 people are still missing. After the events of May 2, 2014 several survivors of the fire attacks were reportedly killed at home.
The director Heyden said the German Economic News that there were further incidents after May 2, 2014:
‘The police arrested protesters who wore the Russia-friendly St. George ribbon at smaller commemorative events. Moreover, there were attacks on the private bank owned by the oligarch Igor Kolomoiski. Many government critics suggest that Kolomoiski is behind the attacks on the Trade Unions House. There have also been attacks on the offices of Euromaidan movement and a freight train. Then in December the government sent special forces with armoured vehicles to Odessa’.
At the current stage of the investigation Heyden said:
‘Three people who had been detained briefly for violent attacks on the Trade Unions House in summer were released later. But the proceedings have been initiated against 31 critics of the government accused of separatism and the alleged instigation of mass unrest. At the opening of trial of the government critics the Right Sector groups mustered up and disturbed the proceedings. The trial was marked by numerous irregularities. The prosecutor did not appear until the fourth trial’.
The current situation in Odessa remains tense. Heyden literally:
‘People of Odessa are mostly Russia friendly. According to my observations people tend to keep away from large gatherings. There is a sense of insecurity and fear. People fear that anti-government protests can lead to violent backlash by pro-government forces and therefore prefer to stay at home’.