Ukraine: thousands continue demonstrations in Kyiv for 14th night
- 10 years ago
Thousands of people continued to rally in Kyiv for the 14th night in a row, angry at the Ukranian government’s decision to freeze ties with the EU and get closer to Russia.
The Prime Minister warned the opposition to end its blockade of government buildings and threatened the west of the country, which has gone on general strike, that it could be left without federal funding.
At a meeting with the president of the European Council, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov accused protesters of violence against the state.
“In Kyiv there are about 2,500 insurgents who use their strength and abilities to provoke law enforcement structures to resist,” Azarov said.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders, including champion boxer Vitali Klitschko, met with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in Kyiv.
Leader of the United Opposition, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said they were planning to widen the protests to the rest of the country.
“We are expanding the protest action both in the city of Kyiv and in other towns across Ukraine, with support from businesses and citizens, so that President Viktor Yanukovych and the entire country can see that this is not just a political process, but that this is a protest by the Ukrainian people against the authorities” he said.
The opposition says it is looking for “active international dialogue” and will also meet the foreign ministers of Canada and Poland.
The Prime Minister warned the opposition to end its blockade of government buildings and threatened the west of the country, which has gone on general strike, that it could be left without federal funding.
At a meeting with the president of the European Council, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov accused protesters of violence against the state.
“In Kyiv there are about 2,500 insurgents who use their strength and abilities to provoke law enforcement structures to resist,” Azarov said.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders, including champion boxer Vitali Klitschko, met with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in Kyiv.
Leader of the United Opposition, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said they were planning to widen the protests to the rest of the country.
“We are expanding the protest action both in the city of Kyiv and in other towns across Ukraine, with support from businesses and citizens, so that President Viktor Yanukovych and the entire country can see that this is not just a political process, but that this is a protest by the Ukrainian people against the authorities” he said.
The opposition says it is looking for “active international dialogue” and will also meet the foreign ministers of Canada and Poland.