UKRAINE: Donetsk rally calls for Russian annexation and return of pro-Moscow President Yanukovich

Record ID: 214488

  • Title: UKRAINE: Donetsk rally calls for Russian annexation and return of pro-Moscow President Yanukovich
  • Date: 22nd March 2014
  • Summary: DONETSK, UKRAINE (MARCH 21, 2014) (REUTERS) PRO-RUSSIAN PROTESTERS GATHER FOR RALLY IN DONETSK LENIN SQUARE PROTESTERS RALLYING, CHANTING PRO-RUSSIAN SLOGANS PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARD READING 'VIKTOR GO HOME' PROTESTERS CHANTING 'YANUKOVICH IS OUR PRESIDENT' (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) GALINA ZAKAZCHIKOVA, DONETSK RESIDENT, SAYING: "Look what is happening in the country, it is a coup d'etat, it is against the law, and we are against these authorities. We are for the legitimate President Yanukovich, and we are waiting for him." PROTESTERS HOLDING UP BANNERS AROUND LENIN STATUE YOUTH WAVING RUSSIAN FLAG TWO MEN WALKING THROUGH CROWD HOLDING RUSSIAN FLAGS AND CHANTING 'RUSSIA' PROTESTERS WAVING RUSSIAN FLAGS PROTESTERS CHANTING "RUSSIA, RUSSIA" MORE OF PROTEST
  • Embargoed: 6th April 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3MBOR9Z1R4XGKN2H51K4R8M60
  • Story Text: Pro-Russian demonstrators gathered on Saturday (March 22) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, calling for greater Russian influence and the return of the ousted pro-Moscow Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation that completed the process of absorbing Crimea into Russia.
    Donetsk is the home city of Yanukovich and his former stronghold. The pro-Russian president was toppled in Kiev in February after three months of protests, triggered by Yanukovich's refusal to sign an association agreement with the EU.
    Waving Russian flags and chanting "Russia, Russia!" protesters in the mainly Russian speaking city accused pro-EU new government in Kiev of a carrying out a coup.
    "Look what is happening in the country, it is a coup d'etat, it is against the law, and we are against these authorities. We are for the legitimate President Yanukovich, and we are waiting for him," said Donetsk resident Galina Zakazchikov.
    Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of supporting groups in the Donetsk region which favour rule from Moscow and of sending militants over the border.
    The Kremlin says its intervention in favour of ethnic Russians in Crimea was prompted by Yanukovich's removal in what it describes as a coup by right-wing nationalists.
    An East-West tug-of-war has mounted since Russia occupied Crimea, home to its Black Sea fleet and a majority of ethnic Russians, following the overthrow of Yanukovich by street protests last month.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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