'Celebrities - don't be Silent': Ruslana's Role in the Maidan Protests

Ruslana Lyzhychko is probably best remembered for bringing victory to Ukraine in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest with the storming ethno-pop number 'Wild Dances'. Whilst most would think of Conchita Wurst as Eurovision's most revolutionary victor, Ruslana has been an active political figure in Ukraine for a decade. A prominent player in the Orange Revolution she later served as a member of parliament for 'Westerniser' party Our Ukraine and most recently became one of the leading figures for the anti-Yanyukovych sector of the Maidan protests, singing the national anthem at Independence Square for one hundred consecutive nights in order to raise morale of the protestors. 

 

 

But how much influence can a 'pop star' really have over an international political crisis? As well as playing a symbolic role in the Maidan protests, Ruslana has become one of the leading political figures, using her profile to raise awareness for the pro-European stance in the crisis. A particularly emotive speech was given in Leipzig in which she accused Russia of 'provoking the Third World War', inflammatory comments such as this saw her receive death threats from separatists and allegedly have her car followed.  This did not deter and following Yanyukovych's removal as president she has continued to highlight the threat posed by Putin to Ukraine's territorial integrity.

 

 

 

She has been immensely successful in her mission to bring the plight of Ukraine to global attention and earlier this year she was awarded the International Woman Of Courage award and the Lech Walesa award for the risks she took during the Maidan protests. Whilst some may argue that her heavily emotive speeches and use of Ukrainian symbols in order to garner support may be an over-simplification of events it cannot be denied that the importance of Ruslana as a figurehead during the EuroMaidan protests have not only motivated protesters within Ukraine but have helped to raise awareness for the pro-Ukraine movement on the global stage.