RUSSIA: Russians at a rally in Moscow supporting Crimea to join Russia, say 'terrorists' are in power in Ukraine

Record ID: 214294

  • Title: RUSSIA: Russians at a rally in Moscow supporting Crimea to join Russia, say 'terrorists' are in power in Ukraine
  • Date: 10th March 2014
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 10, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SUPPORTING CRIMEA JOINING RUSSIA DEMONSTRATING WITH FLAGS PUTIN'S PORTRAIT WITH LETTERS READING (Russian): 'MOTHERLAND! FREEDOM!' VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WITH FLAGS AND BALLOONS AT RALLY TWO MEN HOLDING SOVIET FLAG ON STAGE, ADDRESSING RALLY PEOPLE IN CROWD (SOUNDBITE) (Russia) PROTESTER, YELENA, SAYING: "They came here in all sincerity, they weren't sent here by anyone. They are here to support their own people in Ukraine. Honestly speaking, there is a lot of people who behave like Bandera in Moscow. We are afraid of them, frankly speaking. But they are in a minority so far, so we can overcome this fear because we are numerous. The more of us are here, the more insignificant (they become). As for Ukraine, this is not Ukraine, this is Russia. (JOURNALIST ASKING 'ALL OF IT'?) No, we can give away Lviv. We don't need to feed them." FLAGS WAVING PROTESTER AT RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Russia) PROTESTER, ALEXEI MYAGKOV, SAYING: "Terrorists took over the power (in Kiev) and ousted the legitimate president. The president is on the run and I think the country is ruled by terrorists." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT RALLY FLAGS WAVING PEOPLE AT RALLY
  • Embargoed: 25th March 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEFKKGUUP59K6MONJO94CHAN4K
  • Story Text: About 500 people in favour of Crimea joining Russia gathered in central Moscow on Monday (March 10) to show their support to Russian speaking Ukraine.
    Activists called for 'no war' in Ukraine, but said they believed Crimea would be better off if it joined Russia, adding that the power in Kiev has been taken over by 'terrorists'.
    Protester Yelena insisted that all the people at the rally came there voluntarily to show genuine support:
    "They came here in all sincerity, they weren't sent here by anyone. They are here to support their own people in Ukraine. Honestly speaking, there is a lot of people who behave like Bandera in Moscow. We are afraid of them, frankly speaking. But they are in a minority so far, so we can overcome this fear because we are numerous. The more of us are here, the more insignificant (they become). As for Ukraine, this is not Ukraine, this is Russia", Yelena said, referring to Stepan Bandera - a former leader of the OUN (Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists). The OUN welcomed the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union as a means of gaining independence for the whole country.
    Bandera is revered by Ukrainian nationalists for fighting Russian and Polish occupation in Ukraine but denounced by others as a Nazi collaborator during World War II.
    Yelena, like many others, also said she supported a Crimean referendum on union with Russia that is set for March 16, saying there was no union in Ukraine.

    "As for Ukraine, this is not Ukraine, this is Russia," she said.
    Another rally participant Alexei Myagkov said he believed Ukraine has been taken over by 'terrorists' who ousted President Viktor Yanukovich.

    "Terrorists took over the power (in Kiev) and ousted the legitimate president. The president is on the run and I think the country is ruled by terrorists," he said.
    Yanukovich, who fell to a popular uprising against his rule after he pulled out of a trade deal with the European Union, has taken refuge in southern Russia after fleeing Ukraine on Feb. 21 Russia's seizure of the Black Sea peninsula, which began more than 10 days ago, has so far been bloodless, but its forces have become increasingly aggressive towards Ukrainian troops, who are trapped in bases and have offered no resistance.
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