RUSSIA: Thousands of people sing World War II songs at a square near the Kremlin, waving Russian and Soviet flags in support of the Crimean referendum on seceding from Ukraine and joining Russia

Record ID: 214427

  • Title: RUSSIA: Thousands of people sing World War II songs at a square near the Kremlin, waving Russian and Soviet flags in support of the Crimean referendum on seceding from Ukraine and joining Russia
  • Date: 15th March 2014
  • Summary: PEOPLE IN RED CLOTHES CHEERING PEOPLE IN RED CLOTHES RAISING HANDS TO APPROVE SPEAKER'S WORDS WOMAN HOLDING BANNER READING (Russian): "CRIMEA+RUSSIA" VARIOUS OF BANNER COMPARING UKRAINE TO EGYPT, LIBYA AND SYRIA
  • Embargoed: 30th March 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Romania
  • Country: Romania
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAA8YMRTT869618G06BDCMT0DAH
  • Story Text: Thousands of people rallied in a central Moscow square on Saturday (March 15) to show their support for a Crimean referendum on breaking away from Ukraine and joining Russia.
    Wearing matching red clothes, the crowds waved Russian and Soviet flags and sang World War Two songs, some bursting into tears of joy.

    "There will never be Maidan in Moscow! There will never be Maidan in Moscow!" chanted Russian politician Sergei Kurginyan, referring to the square in Kiev that has been a focus for anti-government protests.

    "We will go to the places where we are loved! This is what the strategy of modern Russia is all about! This is our strategy at this stage! Do you support this strategy? Yes or no?" continued Kurginyan as the crowds replied: "Yes!" he said from a stage situated in Moscow's Parliament Square near the Kremlin.
    The protest comes as Crimea prepares to vote on Sunday (March 16) on whether the Ukrainian region will become part of Russia.
    The referendum is widely expected to transfer control of the Black Sea peninsula from Ukraine to Moscow, despite the threat of sanctions and condemnation from Western governments.
    Sunday's vote, dismissed by Kiev as illegal, has triggered the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War, and ratcheted up tensions across the region.
    Russia seized control over the Crimean peninsula after the fall of Ukraine's pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovich on February 22 amid street protests in Kiev over his decision to ditch a trade deal with Europe in favour of economic ties with former Soviet overlord, Russia.
    Russia has justified taking control of Crimea by saying it was defending its people against "fascists" in Kiev, a reference to far-right protesters who fought police in deadly clashes in the capital that led to the fall of the government.
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