- Title: UKRAINE: Kiev activists call for boycott of Russian banks
- Date: 26th March 2014
- Summary: KIEV, UKRAINE (MARCH 26, 2014) (REUTERS) GROUP OF ACTIVISTS IN MILITARY CLOTHES OUTSIDE SBERBANK BRANCH PEOPLE LOOKING ON ACTIVISTS DOING STENCIL ON GROUND WITH LETTERS READING (English): 'STOP PUTIN' ACTIVISTS OUTSIDE BANK ACTIVISTS CHANTING 'DOWN !' (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) EUROMAIDAN ACTIVIST, ANATOLIY CHEREDNYCHENKO, SAYING: "We are protesting against the banks of the occupiers, against this bank, VTB bank, Alfa bank, and other banks with Russian capital. If I go to this bank and make some transaction, for example if I pay some bills, then part of it will go to finance the Russian Army." POSTER READING (Russian): 'DO NOT FUND PUTIN, TAKE YOUR MONEY OUT OF THE BANK OF OCCUPIERS' TWO MEN HOLDING POSTER PROTESTERS OUTSIDE BANK PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH BANK'S REVOLVING DOOR, ON IT STICKERS WITH BLOODY HAND AND LETTERS READING (Russian): 'BANK OF OCCUPIERS' LETTERS READING (Russian): 'DOWN WITH PUTIN' GRAFFITI READING (Russian): 'BANK OF OCCUPIERS' BANK EMPLOYEE REMOVING STICKER FROM BANK SIGN
- Embargoed: 10th April 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Economy
- Reuters ID: LVA4DPP53SRUZXBDOD4U2JC1AFIT
- Story Text: Using graffiti and pencils, a small group of activists staged a protest on Wednesday (March 26) outside a Kiev branch of Russia's largest bank, Sberbank.
Euromaidan activist Anatoliy Cherednychenko called on his fellow citizens to boycott all Russian banks, in the wake of Moscow's takeover of Crimea.
"We are protesting against the banks of the occupiers, against this bank, VTB bank, Alfa bank, and other banks with Russian capital. If I go to this bank and make some transaction, for example if I pay some bills, then part of it will go to finance the Russian Army," he said.
They chanted slogans against Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose authorisation to use force to protect Russian citizens and interests abroad led to the annexation of Crimea.
Capital has fled Russia, with stocks and the rouble sliding following Moscow's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine and western sanctions against Russian individuals. Analysts at Goldman Sachs recently predicted capital outflows for this year could reach $130 billion, or double 2013 levels.
Earlier this month, Crimea's first deputy prime minister Rustam Temirgaliev said Crimea would take ownership of Ukrainian state companies on its territory, including energy company Chornomornaftohaz, railways and several resorts owned by ministries in Kiev.
A few days later, Temirgaliev said the local authorities may sell Chornomornaftohaz to a Russian company "such as Gazprom".
Crimea is adopting the Russian rouble as its official currency and will drop the Ukrainian hryvnia in April. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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