Monday, December 2, 2013

Tens of Thousands of Ukrainians Protest in Kyiv

An aerial view shows the Maidan Nezalezhnosti or Independence Square crowded by supporters of EU integration during a rally in Kyiv, Dec. 1, 2013.

VOA News

December 01, 2013

Ukrainian protesters are continuing anti-government demonstrations sparked by President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign a free trade pact with the European Union.

Thousands of people were camped out on Monday in Kyiv's central square, a day after more than 100,000 protesters gathered in the capital to call for the president and his government to resign.

The demonstrations have been growing for days. Valery Danilenko, who was in the square on Monday, signaled that the protesters are determined to stay.

"You see these tents here, we came here and we will stay here until the cabinet resigns and the parliament is dissolved and the president also leaves. We will not go home, we know they [the authorities)]will fight to the end but we will not leave. That's why we are here," said Danilenko.

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CBC News World

Ukraine protesters call for President Viktor Yanukovich to resign

Opposition fears Yanukovich may declare state of emergency

Thomson Reuters Posted: Dec 01, 2013 7:25 AM ET Last Updated: Dec 01, 2013 4:59 PM ET

A man holds a stick as protesters try to break through police lines near the presidential administration building during Sunday's rally in Kyiv. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

Ukrainian opposition leaders called on Sunday for President Viktor Yanukovich and his government to resign at a rally of about 350,000 people, the biggest protest in the capital Kiev since the "Orange Revolution" of nine years ago.
On a day of huge emotion, which also marked the anniversary of Ukraine's 1991 referendum on independence from the Soviet Union, opposition leaders denounced Yanukovich for walking away from a pact offered by the European Union and swinging trade policy back towards Russia.
"They stole the dream," heavyweight boxer-turned-opposition politician Vitaly Klitschko told the crowds on Independence Square.

Ukrainian protesters shout as they march to Independence square in downtown Kyiv on Sunday. (Sergei Chuzavkov/Associated Press)

"If this government does not want to fulfil the will of the people, then there will be no such government, there will be no such president. There will be a new government and a new president," declared Klitschko, himself a contender for the next presidential election due in 2015.
After months of pressure from Russia, Yanukovich suddenly backpedalled last week from signing the deal on closer relations with the EU in favour of renewed economic dialogue with Moscow, Ukraine's former Soviet master.
Far-right nationalist leader Oleh Tyahniboh called for a national strike to start from Sunday, and members of his Svoboda (Freedom) party occupied Kiev's city hall along with followers of former economy minister Arseny Yatsenuk's Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) Party.

News conference

All three opposition leaders also occupied a trade union building, turning it into a temporary headquarters.
The events, evoking memories of the 2004-5 Orange Revolution that overturned the established political order, took place against the background of an apparent attempt by a protesters to storm the main presidential office.

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Interior Ministry forces and riot police fired tear gas and stun grenades to repel the protesters, who used an earth excavator in an attempt to break through police lines.
Police said 100 officers had been injured in violence during the day, news agencies reported.

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Ukrainian President Condemns Violence

VOA News

November 30, 2013

VIDEO: Several Western governments have condemned Ukraine’s crackdown Saturday on pro-European protesters in the capital. VOA's Henry Ridgwell has more from Kyiv.

KYIV — Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Saturday condemned what he calls "actions" that have led to violence during opposition demonstrations in Kyiv, saying he was "deeply outraged" by the violence at the capital's Independence Square, without directly blaming police.

Riot police in Ukraine used batons and stun grenades to break up an opposition demonstration early Saturday, after the president failed to sign a free trade pact with the European Union. Numerous injuries were reported.

He called for an immediate investigation in order to punish those responsible.

Protesters say the police attack was unprovoked. Ambulances treated dozens of injured demonstrators — mostly for wounds to the head and arms — as police used batons, stun grenades and tear gas to clear the square.

By dawn several hundred protesters — many of them bandaged and still covered in blood — had sought refuge at a monastery a short distance from Independence Square. Police say 25 people were arrested.

The Interior Ministry said riot police moved in after protesters threw trash and flares at uniformed officers.

Western nations critical

The U.S. State Department also condemned the attack against the demonstrators, saying "violence and intimidation should have no place in today's Ukraine."

The rights group Amnesty International called the violence a "shameful disregard for peoples' rights." It called for an independent investigation into the allegations.

On Friday, the European Union criticized Russia for pressuring Ukraine into abandoning the landmark free trade deal with the European bloc.
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