A discussion with Angelina Diash, FEMEN activist from Ukraine

Abstrakt
In 2008, a radical new activist group, FEMEN, appeared in Ukraine. They used shock tactics typical of a new wave of feminist protest groups taking shape at the time (cf. Pussy Riot), to raise awareness about women’s rights and social and democratic problems more generally. FEMEN quickly gained national and international media attention, and inspired branches of the movement in several countries, including in Sweden. This came at the price of persecution by the authorities, in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, however, and by 2014, the movement’s centre of gravity, and many of its members, had relocated to western Europe, with a headquarters in Paris. Internationally, they caused controversy for their support of fellow activists during the Arab Spring. While the Euromaidan events brought many positive changes to Ukrainian society, many of the problems remained, and FEMEN continued its protests in its home country, albeit fewer and further between.

In this seminar discussion, Angelina will present an eyewitness account of her time with the FEMEN movement, her thoughts on the situation for women in Ukraine up to now, as well as her experiences of refugeedom due to Russia’s war of aggression.

Speaker bio
Angelina Diash is a long-time member of FEMEN and a veteran of numerous prominent protest actions. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she eventually felt forced to seek refuge abroad, and is residing currently in Germany.