- Title: UKRAINE: Thousands protest in Lviv in support of EU integration
- Date: 27th November 2013
- Summary: LVIV, UKRAINE (NOVEMBER 27, 2013) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS MARCHING THROUGH CENTRAL LVIV PROTESTERS HOLDING POSTER READING IN UKRAINIAN "RISE, OUR MOTHERLAND!" VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WALKING THROUGH LVIV STREETS VARIOUS TOP SHOTS OF PROTESTERS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS LISTENING TO CONCERT ON LVIV CENTRAL SQUARE MONUMENT TO UKRAINIAN POET TARAS SHEVCHENKO ON SQUARE PROTESTERS LISTENING TO CONCERT PEOPLE HOLDING BANNER IN COLORS OF EUROPEAN FLAG VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS SIGNING UP TO GO ON BUSES TO KIEV TO TAKE PART IN RALLIES IN SUPPORT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION VARIOUS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AT PROTEST DRAWING WORD "YES" VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WITH UKRAINIAN FLAG PAINTED ON THEIR FACES (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) LESYA PINAH, STUDENT FROM LVIV, SAYING: "We want students to go on strike, we want to make a students revolution in order for Ukraine to rise and for us to reach our goal, so that the President will sign the (EU) integration agreement." EU FLAG PROTESTERS HOLDING POSTER READING IN UKRAINIAN ' ACADEMY OF ARTS" VARIOUS OF YOUNG PROTESTERS WITH UKRAINIAN FLAG PAINTED ON THEIR FACES
- Embargoed: 12th December 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAD6Q3MRF2RD5OTSFAH0WBGPMPZ
- Story Text: Thousands of students gathered for a rally in support of Ukraine's EU integration on Wednesday (November 27) in the western city of Lviv.
Holding European Union and Ukrainian flags they marched through the city's central streets chanting "Europe" and "Eurointegration".
"We want students to go on strike, we want to make a students revolution in order for Ukraine to rise and for us to reach our goal, so that the President will sign the (EU) integration agreement," said Lesya Pinah, a student from Lviv.
Many of the students attending the rally in Lviv were preparing to get on buses right after the rally finished and travel to the Ukrainian capital Kiev to take part in the protest actions started by students there.
The demonstrations have evoked memories of the 2004-5 Orange Revolution when hundreds of thousands, led by now jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, gathered in the same square to thwart Yanukovich's first bid for the presidency.
The protests against the government's decision last week to suspend preparations for signing a trade deal with the EU and renew closer economic ties with Russia instead are much smaller and so far no leader has emerged.
Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovich has promised to attend an EU summit in Vilnius on November 29 despite his sudden decision to walk away from a landmark deal with the bloc.
His trip to the summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius may be an attempt to soothe domestic outrage that has sparked pro-EU demonstrations. Or he may be signalling a willingness to focus on Ukraine's economic ties with the EU without making any political commitments.
In 2004-2005 Internet access in Ukraine was limited. Tymoshenko, whose imprisonment for abuse of power in 2011 has been a main sticking point in EU talks, rallied her supporters through speeches to the large crowds in Kiev's Independence Square.
Now protesters can easily organise themselves on chat pages or social media.
Ukraine often finds itself at the centre of an East-West tug-of-war and the trade deal, due to be signed in Vilnius, would have marked a definitive turn towards the West.
The protesters, and other critics including EU leaders, are upset by Yanukovich's decision, fearing that Ukraine would swing back into Russia's sphere of influence - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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