UKRAINE: Opposition protesters prepare for a rally in central Kiev that they hope will draw out one million people to put pressure on President Viktor Yanukovich after dumping a deal with the European Union

Record ID: 214115

  • Title: UKRAINE: Opposition protesters prepare for a rally in central Kiev that they hope will draw out one million people to put pressure on President Viktor Yanukovich after dumping a deal with the European Union
  • Date: 8th December 2013
  • Summary: KIEV, UKRAINE (DECEMBER 8, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS AERIAL VIEW OF STATUE ON KIEV'S INDEPENDENCE SQUARE OPPOSITION PROTESTERS GATHERED ON SQUARE FOR MORNING CHURCH SERVICE VARIOUS OF PRIESTS CONDUCTING SERVICE ON RALLY STAGE PROTESTERS LISTENING AND CROSSING THEMSELVES POSTER OF JAILED OPPOSITION LEADER YULIA TYMOSHENKO ON SQUARE VARIOUS OF PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS CONDUCTING SERVICE PROTESTERS ON SQUARE PRIESTS CONDUCTING SERVICE PROTESTERS CROSSING THEMSELVES VARIOUS OF PRIEST SERVING COMMUNION TO PROTESTERS PROTESTERS ON SQUARE DEMONSTRATORS BEHIND BARRICADES AT INDEPENDENCE SQUARE DEMONSTRATORS CROWD AND UKRAINIAN FLAG, DEMONSTRATOR DRAPED IN UKRAINIAN FLAG DEMONSTRATORS UKRAINIAN FLAGS AND GEORGIAN FLAG IN THE MIDDLE UKRAINIAN FLAGS HANGING NEXT TO BRITISH UNION JACK EU AND UKRAINIAN FLAG DEMONSTRATORS CROWD OF PROTESTERS AND BELORUSSIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ANTON JILKO, BELRUSSIAN SUPPORTER OF DEMONSTRATION, SAYING: "I came here to express my solidarity with the Ukrainian people in this historically significant moment because right now not only is Ukraine's fate being decided, but all of Eastern Europe's." MARINA TREDNER, UKRAINIAN LIVING IN SWEDEN, DRAPED IN UKRAINIAN FLAG STANDING IN INDEPENDENCE SQUARE LAW BOOK (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARINA TREDNER, UKRAINIAN LIVING IN SWEDEN, SAYING: "I couldn't stay in Sweden and just watch what's happening with my country, and how they destroy everything what's important to me. I spent the first night here and I think it's the safest place in the whole Ukraine actually." DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING SIGNS ELDERLY WOMAN AT DEMONSTRATION PRIESTS AT DEMONSTRATION CROSS AND UKRAINIAN FLAG COLORS ON PRIEST'S CLOTHING VARIOUS OF TENTS WITH SIGNS IDENTIFYING CITY WHERE THE DEMONSTRATORS COME FROM DEMONSTRATORS INSIDE TENT DEMONSTRATORS GATHERED AROUND FIRE CAMPING EQUIPMENT ON GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) SERGEI KISLUHA, FROM THE CHERASI REGION OF UKRAINE, SAYING: "Really I have seen what I came to see. I saw the unity of Ukraine - that the country is and exists and it woke up." DEMONSTRATOR HOLDING SLEEPING BAG CASE VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS IN SQUARE
  • Embargoed: 23rd December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA5E02EQ7J15OS4G286R8650EML
  • Story Text: Ukrainian opposition protesters gathered on Kiev's Independence Square on Sunday (December 8) for a church service ahead of a rally they are hoping will draw in some million people to protest Ukraine's U-turn on a deal with the European Union.
    The rally, sure to put pressure on Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovich as he seeks closer ties with Russia after dumping a trade pact with the EU, will further heighten tension in the weeks-long standoff between the Yanukovich government and its opponents.
    The confrontation has raised fears for political and economic stability in Ukraine, a sprawling ex-Soviet republic of 46 million people which borders four EU countries and is the main transit route for Russian gas to Europe.
    Protesters waving Ukrainian and European Union flags stood in front of a stage where a group of Ukrainian Greek-Catholic priests conducted a Sunday morning service - chanting hymns and distributing communion.
    In a gesture likely to infuriate Yanukovich, protesters hoisted a huge portrait of his jailed arch foe Yulia Tymoshenko onto a towering New Year Tree, festooned with anti-government placards, that overlooks the tent 'village' on the square.
    Later protesters began streaming into Independence Square, readying for a rally to take place later in the day.
    "I came here to express my solidarity with the Ukrainian people in this historically significant moment because right now not only is Ukraine's fate being decided, but all of Eastern Europe's," said one protester Anton Jilko from Belarus.
    Another protester came from Sweden to join the rally.
    "I couldn't stay in Sweden and just watch what's happening with my country, and how they destroy everything what's important to me. I spent the first night here and I think it's the safest place in the whole Ukraine actually," Marina Tredner, a Ukrainian living in Sweden said.
    Sergei Kisluha said he had traveled from Ukraine's Cherasi region to attend the rally.
    "Really I have seen what I came to see. I saw the unity of Ukraine - that the country is and exists and it woke up," Kisluha said.
    Around 350,000 people joined a similar rally last Sunday (December 1), one day after riot police beat protesters and journalists in a crackdown that drew condemnation from Western governments.
    The protests are the largest Ukraine has seen since the 2004-05 Orange Revolution Police have since threatened to eject protesters occupying public buildings, including Kiev's City Hall.
    Yanukovich and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who regards Ukraine as strategically vital to Moscow's own interests, are widely believed to have struck a bargain whereby Ukraine obtains cheaper Russian gas and possibly credits in exchange for backing away from the EU.
    Ukraine sorely needs external help to meet looming gas bills and debt repayments, but the protesters camped around braziers in Kiev's central Independence Square, braving snow and sub-zero temperatures, say their struggle is about more than money.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register