Fear of another Green Movement influences perceptions of Ukraine

A correspondent in Tehran

Mar 14, 2014

EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on their ability to film or take pictures in Tehran.

Supporters of the Iranian opposition movement wear green during the funeral of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri in the holy city of Qom December 21, 2009. Big crowds of mourners chanted anti-government slogans during the funeral of Iran's leading dissident cleric, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, in the holy city of Qom on Monday, websites reported. REUTERS/via — Supporters of the Iranian opposition movement wear green during the funeral of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri in Qom, Dec. 21, 2009. — REUTERS/via Your View

TEHRAN, Iran — Much of the Iranian reaction to the events in Ukraine can be viewed through the lens of the 2009 post-election uprising and its immediate crackdown, even dividing the media and officials along those lines.

“Changing the name of the square in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, from ‘independence’ to ‘euro’ is a clear sign that this movement, supported by the United States and Europe, is pushing Ukraine away from independence toward dependency,” said Maj. Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces.