- Title: UKRAINE: Pro-Russian protesters face police in Donetsk
- Date: 23rd March 2014
- Summary: DONETSK, UKRAINE (MARCH 23, 2014) (REUTERS) PRO-RUSSIAN PROTESTERS MARCHING TOWARDS DONETSK REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS PROTESTERS WALKING CHANTING 'YANUKOVICH GET BACK TO WORK' VARIOUS OF POLICE IN RIOT GEAR AT ENTRANCE OF BUILDING PROTESTERS APPROACHING DONETSK REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS CHANTING 'DOWN WITH TARUTA' POLICEMAN IN RIOT GEAR PROTESTERS SHOUTING IN FRONT OF POLICE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DONETSK RESIDENT, OLGA, SAYING: "I express my protest against current authorities, usurper authorities, Nazi junta. I am for the rein of order, to bring back the supremacy of the law, to avoid this troubled situation which is happening in Kiev, I don't want this to come here." PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARD READING: "YANUKOVICH DEFEND US" PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARD READING: "DONBASS + RUSSIA" AND CHANTING "DOWN WITH TARUTA" (SOUNDBITE) ( Russian) DONETSK RESIDENT, VASILY ANENKO, SAYING: "What is happening in Kiev is not for me. Russia, Crimea, Belarus are mine, they are our brothers, we are with them, and I want to appeal - 'Putin help us' - as we are walking and walking around here." PROTEST OUTSIDE DONETSK REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS LABRADOR DOG WITH RUSSIAN FLAG ATTACHED TO COLLAR
- Embargoed: 7th April 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA85RLZ7I4ZX89XZFONKOV4C9XK
- Story Text: Pro-Russian demonstrators marched to the Donetsk administration building on Sunday (March 23), calling for the resignation of the pro-Kiev governor Serhiy Taruta, as well as for greater Russian influence and the return of ousted pro-Moscow Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich.
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 European Union.
Waving Russian flags and chanting "Russia, Russia!" and "Down with Taruta" protesters in the mainly Russian speaking city accused the pro-EU new government in Kiev of carrying out a coup.
"I express my protest against current authorities, usurper authorities, Nazi junta. I am for the rein of order, to bring back the supremacy of the law, to avoid this troubled situation which is happening in Kiev, I don't want this to come here," said Donetsk resident Olga.
"What is happening in Kiev is not for me. Russia, Crimea, Belarus are mine, they are our brothers, we are with them, and I want to appeal - 'Putin help us' - as we are walking and walking around here," another Donetsk resident, Vasily Anenko said.
Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of supporting groups in the Donetsk region which favour rule from Moscow and of sending militants over the border.
On Friday (March 21), Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation that completed the process of absorbing Crimea into Russia.
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
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