UKRAINE-CRISIS/RIGHT SECTOR Thousands of right-wing group supporters rally in Kiev

Record ID: 149217

  • Title: UKRAINE-CRISIS/RIGHT SECTOR Thousands of right-wing group supporters rally in Kiev
  • Date: 21st July 2015
  • Summary: KIEV, UKRAINE (JULY 21, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS PROFANITY*** CROWD GATHERING ON INDEPENDENCE SQUARE IN KIEV CLOSE OF UKRAINIAN FLAG VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS OF RIGHT-WING GROUP RIGHT SECTOR WALKING ALONG STREET, HOLDING RIGHT SECTOR AND UKRAINIAN FLAGS, CHANTING (CONTAINS PROFANE LANGUAGE) PEOPLE LOOKING ON AS SUPPORTERS OF RIGHT SECTOR WALK PAST RIGHT SECTOR FLAG
  • Embargoed: 5th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7GD2JHIRAPUK401HHO46NPZJM
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS PROFANE LANGUAGE IN PARTS OF SHOT 3
    Thousands of Ukrainian right-wingers and supporters of the Right Sector movement rallied in the capital's Independence Square on Tuesday (July 21) in protest against government policies.
    The peaceful rally comes after a fatal gun battle in the town of Mukacheve in western Ukraine on July 11, where armed men who claimed to members of Right Sector faced off with police forces, leading to the killing of at least two people.
    Right Sector played a prominent role in protests that toppled Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovich a year ago. Members of the groups volunteer corps have been battling alongside Ukrainian forces in the east of the country against pro-Russian separatists.
    But the group has frequently butted heads with Ukrainian authorities over government policy and most recently the shootout in Mukacheve.
    The group is now challenging the government's authority and calling for resignation of ministers, underlining the problems Kiev is facing while trying to carry out reforms and crush the rebellion in its east.
    Supporters of the group on Tuesday waved Right Sector and Ukrainian flags and chanted "Glory to Ukraine" as they converged in the centre of Kiev.
    Right Sector leader, Dmytro Yarosh, said the rally would remain peaceful and the movement would lobby for changes in the Ukrainian government.
    "First of all we have to preserve our country. We know well that there are many who hope that the Right Sector (is like) those fish which will swallow (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's and his gang's bait. There is no way that this can happen," he told the large crowds gathered, from the steps of the Berehynia Monument in Independence Square.
    Yarosh said Ukraine's revolution had entered a new stage.
    "They were expecting for us to go and smash the administrative buildings, and so on. We are showing that we are a disciplined, revolutionary force. And we show with our congress and this rally the start of a new stage of the Ukrainian revolution," he said.
    Analysts say the recent moves by Right Sector are a direct challenge to President Petro Poroshenko and his government, and could threaten to open up a new front in Kiev's battle to bring order to Ukraine.
    Yarosh said the group wants a referendum that would impeach Poroshenko, calling for a vote of no confidence to go through in the Ukrainian parliament.
    "Right Sector is initiating a nationwide Ukrainian referendum to answer several questions. First - (motion) of no-confidence in government; second - we demand for the Russian war against Ukraine to finally be recognised as a war, and not as an anti-terrorist operation. Our Ukrainian people must have their word here," he said as crowds cheered.
    The leader of the right-wing group also called for the recognition of volunteer fighters and the Right Sector's militant corps battling in the east, which would allow for them to carry arms.
    "Three - we demand a complete blockade of the occupied territories. Four - we ask our people to support the legalisation of the Ukrainian volunteers corps and other volunteer units according to the law," said Yarosh, adding his fighters would remain in the east and battle alongside Kiev forces, despite disagreements between the group and the government.
    Close to bankruptcy and fearful of renewed conflict with pro-Russian separatists in the east, Kiev has been criticised for being slow to reform the country's legal system, which is still described as favouring the rich and powerful.
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