UKRAINE: Protesters rally in Mariupol in support of pro-Russian separatists barricaded inside the city hall

Record ID: 214629

  • Title: UKRAINE: Protesters rally in Mariupol in support of pro-Russian separatists barricaded inside the city hall
  • Date: 26th April 2014
  • Summary: MARIUPOL, UKRAINE (APRIL 26, 2014) (REUTERS) "MARIUPOL" SIGN AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CITY SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE CITY HALL PRO-RUSSIAN PROTESTERS WITH SIGNS BARRICADE IN FRONT OF THE CITY HALL (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) IRINA VAROPAEVA, SPEAKER FOR THE PRO-RUSSIAN PROTESTERS IN MARIUPOL, SAYING: "The situation in the city is not destabilized. Everything is as it used to be, life goes on. Walk in the streets outside the perimetre of our camp and you'll see that everything is peaceful, it seems like nothing is happening". PRO-RUSSIAN PROTESTERS IN MASKS INSIDE OF THE CITY HALL CHILDREN IN FRONT OF THE CITY HALL FLAG ABOVE THE ENTRANCE TO THE CITY HALL (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) IRINA VAROPAEVA, SPEAKER FOR THE PRO-RUSSIAN PROTESTERS IN MARIUPOL, SAYING: "In many cities they say that the police joined the people (pro-Russian protesters). In our city the police didn't. Here the police is staying out of politics. That's why they maintain order in the city. Whichever side, whichever rally it is, for united Ukraine or ours, they [the police] will be present". BROKEN GLASS INSIDE OF THE CITY HALL POLICE AND PRO-RUSSIAN PROTESTERS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE CITY HALL
  • Embargoed: 11th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6EZW6AEPJ1RIJN7SST1997918
  • Story Text: Some three hundred anti-government protesters held a peaceful rally in the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on Saturday (April 26) in support of pro-Russians barricaded inside an administrative building.
    Calling for a referendum the protesters said they do not recognise the Kiev government which toppled former president Viktor Yanukovich.
    No Russian flags were flying amongst them and the protesters said they simply wanted more autonomy for the south eastern region of Ukraine.
    Whether or not people wanted to join with Russia was up to them, they said.
    The rally took place as tension continued to rise in other eastern Ukrainian city where members of the OSCE are being detained by separatists wanting to exchange them for separatist fighters jailed by Ukrainian authorities.
    A spokeswoman for the pro-Russian separatists in Mariupol, Irina Varopaeva, spoke inside the barricaded building to say the situation there was a lot more peaceful.

    "The situation in the city is not destabilized. Everything is as it used to be, life goes on. Walk in the streets outside the perimetre of our camp and you'll see that everything is peaceful, it seems like nothing is happening," she said.
    She added that police had been placed inside the barricaded building after it came under attack some time this week but denied that they had joined their cause.

    "In many cities they say that the police joined the people (pro-Russian protesters). In our city the police didn't. Here the police is staying out of politics. That's why they maintain order in the city. Whichever side, whichever rally it is, for united Ukraine or ours, they [the police] will be present," Varopaeva said. .
    Meanwhile Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk's press service said he would return late on Saturday night to Kiev from a visit to Italy a day earlier than planned.
    Without giving any further details his press office said he was coming back early "because of the situation in the country".
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