Orden – an ultra-conservative organization that opposes gender equality and LGBT+ rights

C14
Year Founded: 2019 Locations: Across Ukraine

Related People

Eduard Yurchenko
Yaroslav Kulyk

Related Groups

The head of the organization is Eduard Yurchenko. Another prominent ally of Orden is Yaroslav Kulyk (a Ukrainian Orthodox priest who serves at the church on Zarichna Street in Kyiv) who often joins organization’s events and actions. Orden violently opposes the activities of the feminist movement and the LGBT+ community.

History

The organization was established in 2019, but its leaders were known before this (see information about Eduard Yurchenko). According to Bellingcat, in a now-deleted video from 2016, Yaroslav Kulyk called for the "ruthless smashing" of participants of the Equality March.“Calls To "Fight" LGBT People By Ukrainian Cleric Emblematic Of Church's Proximity To Far Right”, Bellingcat, June 21, 2019, https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2019/06/21/calls-to-fight-lgbt-people-by-ukrainian-cleric-emblematic-of-churchs-proximity-to-far-right.

On June 9, 2019, the organization took part in a procession for the protection of families and childrenOrden, Telegram publication, June 9, 2019, https://t.me/orden83/10. led by Metropolitan Epiphanius of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that was also attended by former Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Oleksandr Turchynov, who is known for his conservative views.

On June 18, 2019, Orden picketed the Presidential Administration of Ukraine demanding they punish the police for using force against those who attacked the Equality March in 2018.Orden, Telegram publication, June 18, 2019, https://t.me/orden83/25. According to the findings of the public monitoring group "OZON", the police used excessive force and committed other violations during the detention of opponents of the March in 2018.“Марш Рівності Kyiv Pride 2018: результати громадського спостереження” [Kyiv Pride Equality March 2018: results of public monitoring], Ozon, June 17, 2018, http://ozon.monitoring.tilda.ws/kyivpride2018.

On June 22, 2019, the organization urged its supporters to attack a demonstration held by Stalin supporters.Orden, Telegram publication, June 22, 2019, https://t.me/orden83/42.

On June 23, 2019, the organization attempted to disrupt the Equality March in Kyiv.“«Наша Фіуме»: Що відбувалось 22-23 червня?” [Our Fiume: What Happened on June 22-23?], Orden, Telegram publication, June 24, 2019, https://t.me/orden83/61.

On September 4, 2019, the organization made three appeals to prevent a Gay Pride event from being held in Kharkiv:  to Kharkiv Mayor Hennadiy Kernes; to the Deputy Mayor for Family, Youth, and Sports Kostiantyn Loboichenko; and to the Kharkiv Regional State Administration Yulia Svitlychna.Orden, Telegram publication, September 4, 2019, https://t.me/orden83/134.

On November 15, 2019, the organization tried to disrupt the Equality March which took place as part of Kharkiv Pride.Orden, Telegram publication, September 15, 2019, https://t.me/orden83/155.

On November 23, 2019, the organization tried to disrupt an LGBT+ community demonstration on the International Transgender Day of Remembrance.Orden, Telegram publication, November 23, 2019, https://t.me/orden83/210.

On November 20, 2020, Orden organized an eventOrden, Facebook publication, December 1, 2019, https://www.facebook.com/orden.org.ua/posts/205320701052875. in memory of Corneliu Codrianu, the founder of the Romanian fascist Iron Guard movement which existed in the first half of the twentieth century.Constantin Iordachi, “Фашизм у Центрально-Східній Європі: романтична палінгенеза та політична релігія Леґіону архангела Михаїла у міжвоєнній Румунії” [Fascism in Central and Eastern Europe: The Romantic Palingenesis and Political Religion of the Legion of Archangel Michael in Interwar Romania], Ukraiina Moderna , 2013, https://uamoderna.com/images/archiv/2013-20/Yordaki.pdf.

On March 8, 2021, representatives of Orden, along with other far-right organizations, tried to disrupt the annual Women's March.Orden, Telegram publication, March 8, 2021, https://t.me/orden83/1098.

Ideology

The organization describes itself as a conservative initiative and the conservative wing of the National Corps party. It advocates for the restriction of the LGBT+ community’s right to peaceful assembly,“Рівненська міська рада заборонила проведення маршів ЛГБТ-спільнот” [Rivne City Council has banned LGBT communities rallies], Orden, Telegram publication, March 8, 2021, https://t.me/orden83/244. and opposes ratification of the Istanbul Convention.Orden, Telegram publication, October 11, 2019, https://t.me/orden83/183. The organization directly opposes democracyOrden, Telegram publication, July 18, 2019, https://t.me/orden83/96. and sympathizes with fascism:

"In the morning there was a gay parade, which was attended by about ten thousand gays and sympathizers. They were guarded by several thousand law enforcement officers: the National Police, the Cavalry Police, the National Guard, and the Tactical and Operation Response force. They were protecting them from us. Three hundred, maybe four hundred, not a marginal amount. Of course, this may seem pointless. Undoubtedly, this may seem childish. Undoubtedly, in the eyes of the masses, we are radicals, bandits, for some we’re even savages and madmen.

However, we — the crazy ones — will one day change this society, Ukraine, and eventually the world. And SerpokrylA prominent member of the far-right “Tradition and Order” organization. will make a film about traditional love against the background of millions of protests by young fascists, burning garbage and the overthrow of the democratic regime."Orden, Telegram publication, June 24, 2019, https://t.me/orden83/61.