Yanukovych's house has been taken over...by the protesters!

[Roma_Victrix]

The Crass Menagerie: Protesters, Media Swarm Yanukovych Country House

With embattled Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych now in the country's east, antigovernment protesters and media have been taking the opportunity to freely roam around his opulent residence outside Kyiv.

This article from 2012 describes Mezhyhirya as an extravagantly appointed residence situated in sprawling grounds that boast everything from a golf course to a private zoo.

Here are some of the pictures posted on social media on February 22 as hundreds of protesters flocked to the now unguarded compound to see what one dubbed "Yanukdisneyland" for themselves.

Some enjoyed a walk in the park...

This is absolutely wild. I saw a BBC report about this, showing people walking around freely in his house and inspecting his lavish sauna where he used to relax. What do you guys think of this? Is it wrong for people to do this to his private property? Or oh so right?

In any case this all seems a bit lawless, but in a fun and perhaps harmless way. The guy didn't just lose his presidency...he lost his own damn house as well!

And just to make this clear, since we already have a thread about the Ukrainian protests, this thread is strictly about the storming of his private residence and turning it into a visitor's attraction.

[YukonTrooper]

Mob entering house. So political. Very debate. Wow.

[Roma_Victrix]

Mob entering house. So political. Very debate. Wow.

Well gosh, excuse me for bringing up what I thought was a legitimate issue concerning private property and its (lawful?) acquisition by the state. I'm with Caratacus, though, they should incorporate it into a theme park, that would be sweet.

Imagine it, a giant roller coaster soaring above his mansion in the background.

[Maximinus Thrax]

Based off the story in USA Today it appears that they declared his residence public property.

"All your base are belong to us", said the Ukrainians. Most likely that the resources used to build this gargantuan property had once belonged to the state, before Yanukovych decided there were his, in the true oligarchic tradition. Now the people are taking back what was "theirs".

They should turn it into a Oligarch Theme Park.

Sail upon the "Pirate ship" to share some of their stolen booty.

Jump aboard the ride "Gravy Train" on which there are lots of goodies to stuff your face.

Or make your tummy twirl on the the giant Roller coaster " Foreign Investo"

Or buy a bag of sticky buns to feed the animals, each with the name of your favourite politician.

Lol.

[Knight of Heaven]

Well gosh, excuse me for bringing up what I thought was a legitimate issue concerning private property and its (lawful?) acquisition by the state. I'm with Caratacus, though, they should incorporate it into a theme park, that would be sweet.

Imagine it, a giant roller coaster soaring above his mansion in the background.

Considering the person in question, does it have the right of this particular private property? When we know how it was aquired.
Regardless of the legal issues, it doesnt have any sympathy, or pitty from me.

[Roma_Victrix]

Considering the person in question, does it have the right of this particular private property? When we know how it was aquired.
Regardless of the legal issues, it doesnt have any sympathy, or pitty from me.

Precisely. Clearly he had to have been siphoning off public funds to pay for all of this lavish decor and his exotic zoo animals, plus a golf course! I just read a news report about how divers went down to the bottom of a nearby lake and discovered documents that he'd tried to dispose of quickly (other ones he apparently burned to hide the evidence). After drying them off, it appears he was spending lots of money on curtains in one room alone! 80,000 euros to be exact, along with literally millions of dollars in other receipts.

That's the hardworking Ukrainian people's taxed money going to work right there.

[hellheaven1987]

So when is Tymoshenko's house going to be stormed?

[YukonTrooper]

I bet she has two pirate ships instead of just one and a whole vault full of gold. For democracy, of course.

[Condottiere 40K]

I'd say the fashion for golden toilets in the Ukraine is now passé.

[Col. Tartleton]

Ukraine should be dissolved now, they're clearly incapable of not being Russians.

[tarvu]

Based off the story in USA Today it appears that they declared his residence public property.

What does this mean? Are they turning it into a museum? Why not sell the monstrosity to fund some more necessary governmental infrastructure.

I'd hope it is being protected from vandalism and looting.

[caratacus]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

They should turn it into a Oligarch Theme Park.

Sail upon the "Pirate ship" to share some of their stolen booty.

Jump aboard the ride "Gravy Train" on which there are lots of goodies to stuff your face.

Or make your tummy twirl on the the giant Roller coaster " Foreign Investo"

Or buy a bag of sticky buns to feed the animals, each with the name of your favourite politician.

[Durnaug]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

They should turn it into a Oligarch Theme Park.

Sail upon the "Pirate ship" to share some of their stolen booty.

Jump aboard the ride "Gravy Train" on which there are lots of goodies to stuff your face.

Or make your tummy twirl on the the giant Roller coaster " Foreign Investo"

Or buy a bag of sticky buns to feed the animals, each with the name of your favourite politician.

Haha. Very true. In fact this is how oligarchs and corporations view all our wealth and resources - THEIR personal playthings.

[Bobz]

It seems like the more autocratic you are the less taste you have. Or maybe I'm just jealous that I don't have a golden throne.

[Armenum]

I love his collection of cars and the zoo is a nice touch.

[hellheaven1987]

Depose one Russian oligarchy and welcome the new EU oligarchy, I don't see the point here; it was like depose Spartan oligarchy and welcame Macedonian oligarchy.

[Condottiere 40K]

The Helots might have been more enthused.

[caratacus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26325562
Protestors have gone on to seize a collection of cars belonging the son of Yanukovych. That Knight XV luxury SUV valued at $500,000 looks cool. It must be what every aspiring oligarch is driving this year. If you can't find a parking space, simply make one with this monster.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Roma_Victrix]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26325562
If you can't find a parking space, simply make one with this monster.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

That's the best damn line I've read all week, perhaps all month here at TWC. At the very least that earns you +1 rep.

But if Yanukovych acquired all those possessions legally and not through tax-payer money, what is the problem? If you are successful and have money, there's no problem in living the fancy life to enjoy your success.

Well, of course that's different. No one here (besides our communist friends lurking about the forum) would argue otherwise. That being said, what an Yanykovych was to live in a country that miserably poor (look at their per capita rating) and spend that amount of money ENTIRELY ON HIMSELF. Is it really necessary to buy curtains for 80,000 euros for just one room in your house? Sheesh. That's far more than the entire annual salary of the average worker in Ukraine. I think that's what people are getting steamed about, made worse by the allegations that he was using public funds.

[Armenum]

Well, of course that's different. No one here (besides our communist friends lurking about the forum) would argue otherwise. That being said, what an Yanykovych was to live in a country that miserably poor (look at their per capita rating) and spend that amount of money ENTIRELY ON HIMSELF. Is it really necessary to buy curtains for 80,000 euros for just one room in your house? Sheesh. That's far more than the entire annual salary of the average worker in Ukraine. I think that's what people are getting steamed about, made worse by the allegations that he was using public funds.

If he was using public funds for his private life, then that's obviously wrong. Yeah, his country's poor, but does that mean he should live modestly if he has money that he made privately? I understand the PR aspect of it, so it would be bad to show his possessions off to the country, but given it was all hidden from public eye, I don't see much of a problem.