UKRAINE: Ukraine's Prime Minister Mykola Azarov addresses thousands of government supporters gathered in central Kiev, a few hundred meters away from the heart of anti-Yanukovich protests

Record ID: 214123

  • Title: UKRAINE: Ukraine's Prime Minister Mykola Azarov addresses thousands of government supporters gathered in central Kiev, a few hundred meters away from the heart of anti-Yanukovich protests
  • Date: 14th December 2013
  • Summary: KIEV, UKRAINE (DECEMBER 14, 2013) (REUTERS) GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS GATHERING FOR RALLY UKRAINIAN FLAGS AT RALLY VARIOUS OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS HOLDING YANUKOVICH'S "PARTY OF REGIONS" AND UKRAINIAN FLAGS ARRIVING FOR RALLY CROWD OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS HOLDING SIGN READING (Russian): "DONBASS FOR YANUKOVICH" (REFERRING TO REGION YANUKOVICH IS FROM) VARIOUS OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS AT RALLY UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER, MYKOLA AZAROV, ADDRESSING RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER, MYKOLA AZAROV, SAYING: "We have to fulfil certain conditions, do you know what kind of conditions these are? We have to legalise same-sex marriages (sound of crowd cheering "Shame"), to receive, to adopt a law about equal rights for sexual minorities, is our society ready for this? (Sound of crowd chanting "No")." GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS AT RALLY PRO-GOVERNMENT RALLY IN PROGRESS SINGER ON STAGE PRO-GOVERNMENT RALLY IN PROGRESS GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS AT RALLY GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS DANCING (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER, ALEXANDER, SAYING: "We have leaders. The first is the president, he is our Tsar as it used to be in the past and we will go with him through fire and water." (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER IRINA, SAYING: "We are here to support our president, I think what he is doing is good." VARIOUS OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS AT RALLY
  • Embargoed: 29th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAF4TEVMF4W4V4UEIUAX03W0W71
  • Story Text: Thousands of supporters of Ukraine's government gathered at Kiev's European Square on Saturday (December 14), a few hundred metres away from Independence Square, the heart of anti-government protest.
    Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich's decision to spurn a trade and cooperation pact with the European Union in favour of closer ties with Russia has triggered weeks of unrest with protesters demanding dismissal of his government.
    At Saturday's pro-government rally people waved Ukrainian flags, and those of Yanukovich's "Party of Regions" party.
    Ukraine's Prime Minister Mykola Azarov addressed the demonstrators, outlining some of the changes an association with the EU could bring.
    "We have to fulfil certain conditions, do you know what kind of conditions these are? We have to legalise same-sex marriages", to receive, to adopt a law about equal rights for sexual minorities, is our society ready for this?" he asked the crowd, which responded with chants of "No".
    One protester offered his full support to Yanukovich.
    "We have leaders. The first is the president, he is our Tsar as it used to be in the past and we will go with him through fire and water," said Alexander.
    "We are here to support our president, I think what he is doing is good," added Irina.
    The gathering of Yanukovich supporters came as anti-government protesters streamed into the capital from mainly western regions ahead of a mass rally on Sunday (December 15), boosting thousands already camped out on Kiev's Independence Square, known locally as Maidan, the focal point of recent demonstrations.
    The rally takes place the day after Yanukovich and opposition leaders held crisis talks which brought no compromise.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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