UKRAINE-PROTEST RALLY WRAP Ukraine opposition hold mass rally, reject any negotiations with president

Record ID: 214158

  • Title: UKRAINE-PROTEST RALLY WRAP Ukraine opposition hold mass rally, reject any negotiations with president
  • Date: 2nd February 2014
  • Summary: RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT Ukraine opposition leaders address anti-government rally on return from meeting Western politicians in Germany, say they reject any notion of negotiations with president Viktor Yanukovich. SHOWS: KIEV, UKRAINE (FEBRUARY 2, 2014) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING ON INDEPENDENCE SQUARE VIEWED FROM ABOVE 2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WITH UKRAINIAN NATIONAL AND OPPOSITION PARTY FLAGS 3. PRIESTS BLESSING THE CROWD 4. CROWD SINGING UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM 5. VARIOUS OF OPPOSITION LEADERS SINGING UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM 6. CROWD CHEERING OPPOSITION LEADERS 7. UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER YURI LUTSENKO ADDRESSING GATHERING 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, YURI LUTSENKO, SAYING: "All those who were speaking about Yanukovich's iron balls now know that Putin's iron fist is holding Yanukovich's balls. We are dealing not as much with our domestic mafia but more with the attempt of a new colonisation of our country. That's why here on this square is our re-occupation here on this square we are fighting for our sovereign rights." 9. PEOPLE CHANTING: "GANGS OUT, GANGS OUT" 10. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, YURI LUTSENKO, SAYING: "The point is there is nothing to negotiate with him. We can only speak here in the street with the parliament members who want to leave this bloody gang which is trying to impose fascist rule in Ukraine." 11. CROWD LISTENING 12. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, VITALY KLITSCHKO, SAYING: "We have to overcome the fear and the chaos to win and we have to win. That's why I am proposing first that we need to protect Maidan and we need to organise fast cooperation between all groups so that we don't allow any provocations which the authorities want." 13. PEOPLE LISTENING 14. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, VITALY KLITSCHKO, SAYING: "Second, we need to organise self-defence units to control the law and order on the streets in every city and every town. Call your friends, call your neighbours, call your acquaintances, patrol the streets. Only we ourselves can stop this lawlessness organised by the authorities with the help of moronic thugs." 15. PEOPLE CHANTING "YES" 16. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, VITALY KLITSCHKO, SAYING: "Third, we have to demonstrate the force of the citizen protest. We already had a wave of solidarity protests when in every city people were going to protest in front of their local government buildings to state their position. I propose to repeat and strengthen these protests." 17. WIDE OF CROWD 18. UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, ARSENIY YATSENYUK, ADDRESSING THE CROWD 19. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, ARSENIY YATSENYUK, SAYING: "The whole world is not just watching us but finally the world has decided to help us. Enough. There are enough words. Ukrainians ask for concrete action and we have been promised such action." 20. WIDE OF RALLY 21. PEOPLE APPLAUDING
  • Embargoed: 17th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8QANM3W0QR2LDL37N4DFFAPRQ
  • Story Text: Ukraine's opposition leaders on Sunday (February 2) told thousands gathered in Kiev's Independence Square that the international community had promised to help Ukraine. They also called for a strengthening of the protests and the creation of self-defence units.
    The leaders, including boxer-turned-politician Vitaly Klitschko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk, an ally of jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, had just flown back to Ukraine from the Munich Security Conference where they lobbied European and U.S. officials for support for the opposition.
    The opposition leaders said they hoped for international mediation in negotiations with the government and for constitutional change to limit presidential power.
    Calling for a complete change of leadership after weeks of crisis that have divided the country and set the West against Yanukovich's Russian allies, they told supporters they would secure international economic aid if they were able to take power.
    Former Minister of Internal Affairs Yuri Lutsenko said the protest movement needed to combat the influence of Russia in their country.
    "All those who were speaking about Yanukovich's iron balls now know that Putin's iron fist is holding Yanukovich's balls. We are dealing not as much with our domestic mafia but more with the attempt of a new colonisation of our country. That's why here on this square is our re-occupation here on this square we are fighting for our sovereign rights," Lutsenko said.
    The resignation in the past week of the prime minister and withdrawal of new laws curbing rights to protest have failed to appease demonstrators occupying public buildings and streets in Kiev and other cities who want Yanukovich out after he spurned a trade deal with the EU in November and sought Russian aid.
    Lutsenko also rejected further negotiations with the president.
    "The point is there is nothing to negotiate with him. We can only speak here in the street with the parliament members who want to leave this bloody gang which is trying to impose fascist rule in Ukraine," Lutsenko said.
    Ukraine's embattled president announced on Sunday he would return to work after four days' sick leave.
    Klitschko appealed for protesters to return to the streets to keep up the pressure on Yanukovich and called for the organization of self-defence units across the country.
    "We have to overcome the fear and the chaos to win and we have to win. That's why I am proposing first that we need to protect Maidan and we need to organise fast cooperation between all groups so that we don't allow any provocations which authorities want," Klitschko said.
    "Second, we need to organise self-defence units to control the law and order on the streets in every city and every town. Call your friends, call your neighbours, call your acquaintances, patrol the streets. Only we ourselves can stop this lawlessness organised by the authorities with the help of moronic thugs..."
    "Third, we have to demonstrate the force of the citizen protest. We already had a wave of solidarity protests when in every city people were going to protest in front of their local government buildings to state their position. I propose to repeat and strengthen these protests," he added.
    Yatsenyuk, who turned down an offer last week from Yanukovich to become prime minister, said the international community was now ready to help.
    "The whole world is not just watching us but finally the world has decided to help us. Enough. There are enough words. Ukrainians asked for concrete action and we have been promised such action," Yatsenyuk told the crowd.
    Some opposition leaders have urged the European Union, whose foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is due in Kiev on Tuesday (February 4), to impose sanctions to hurt the business and financial interests of the president and his leading supporters. However, few European governments see that as worthwhile at present.
    A senior U.S. State Department official is also due to visit Kiev this week.
    At least six people were killed during protests last month and some leading figures have warned of "civil war".
    Since the resignation a week ago of Yanukovich's prime minister, the government has been operating in an interim capacity and some opposition leaders say they fear the president might impose a state of emergency or military rule on the country.
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