UKRAINE: Hundreds of drivers in Donetsk join the anti-Russian strike initiated by billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine's richest man and owner of factories across the troubled east, with car sirens heard across the city

Record ID: 341731

  • Title: UKRAINE: Hundreds of drivers in Donetsk join the anti-Russian strike initiated by billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine's richest man and owner of factories across the troubled east, with car sirens heard across the city
  • Date: 20th May 2014
  • Summary: DONETSK, UKRAINE (MAY 20, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CARS IN DONETSK STREETS WITH LOUD CAR SIRENS PEOPLE WATCHING STRIKE CAR WITH UKRAINIAN FLAG DRIVING BY PEOPLE CHEERING, CLAPPING HANDS SIRENS HEARD LOUD AS CARS STAND IN TRAFFIC LIGHT WOMAN TAKING PICTURES CARS WITH SIRENS DRIVING BY (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) IRINA, DONETSK, RESIDENT, SAYING: "I have been supporting the un
  • Embargoed: 4th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5YY7AL74J0LL3UMRYZFX8SB0K
  • Story Text: Hundreds of drivers in Donetsk joined the anti-Russian strike on Tuesday (May 20) initiated by billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine's richest man and owner of factories across the troubled east, with car sirens heard across the city.
    Multi-billionaire Akhmetov called on his employees to hold peaceful protests on Tuesday in defiance of separatists who plan to disrupt a May 25 presidential election.
    In his strongest condemnation yet of the separatists, who have seized strategic points in towns in the heavily industrialized Russian-speaking east, Akhmetov urged people to unite "for Donbass without weapons! For Donbass without masks!"
    Akhmetov, a coal and steel magnate who has an estimated 300,000 employees on his payroll, said Ukrainians should stage a "peaceful warning protest" at their companies from noon on Tuesday when sirens would sound across the region.
    Many Donestk residents took to the streets to support the action.

    "I have been supporting the unity of Ukraine from the very first day when separatists showed up here. I support all the campaigns against all these unhealthy, in my opinion, trends," Donetsk resident Irina said.

    "I am for Donetsk being a part of the united Ukraine. We want to live peacefully, quietly, and well," another Donestk resident, Anya, said, Akhmetov said the action should continue daily "until peace is established" and he also urged motorists to join in the protest by sounding their horns.

    "I support my colleagues who probably just like me think that Donbass is a part of Ukraine. So we are for peace in the region," Donetsk resident Alexei said.
    Separatist rebellions erupted in the east after the Kiev "Euromaidan" uprising, fuelled by cross-border propaganda from Moscow critical of Kiev's pro-Western authorities. Russia also seized Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.
    VOXPOPS
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register