Ukraine: Massive anti-government protests are ongoing on the eve of Yanukovich’s visit to Russia

Massive anti-government protests in Kyiv
(Image: Liga NET)

More than 300 thousand people have gathered on Sunday, 15 December, in Kyiv’s Independence Square, called among the people Maidan. Massive anti-government and pro-European protests are ongoing in Kyiv and in other Ukrainian cities as well for the 25^th day, and today’s “Day of Dignity” was one of the most important days for the protesters as serious threats of provocations and possible forces scenario are stronger than ever.

At the same time Ukrainian government has organized the so-called “Anti-Maidan”, pro-government rallies also attended by many nearly 20-30 thousand people. Most of them look like being organized as they have been transported to Kyiv in an organized way by buses and trains and their rally happens behind the iron fence and surrounded by the line of police who doesn’t allow anyone else inside. Among those supporting on the rally President Victor Yanukovich are different people, but there are a lot of workers of budget sphere and retired citizens and also many youth, probably students. Some of them said in the interviews they are being paid for participation in this rally, some claimed they’ve received threats at work that they are going to be fired if they will refuse to participate. Pro-government rally has started in Saturday in 200 meters from Euromaidan, but later protesters have moved to the Mariynsky park, close to the building of Parliament, where their rally is ongoing. But the numbers of participants have significantly decreased, according to the journalists’ reports.

Ukrainian opposition and public activists will form Transitional government. Opposition calls for the massive nationwide Sunday protests

Ukrainian anti-government and pro-European protests
(Image: AFP)

Ukrainian opposition and public activists and representatives of the protesters of Maidan have met on Friday, 6 December, on the press-conference and discussed their roadmap and the further steps.

Ukrainian activists, artists, journalists, intellectuals and prominent persons have signed a joint petition to Ukrainian opposition voicing the demands of the people protesting on Independence Square and all over Ukraine and containing propositions to the opposition regarding the next steps.

EU doesn’t confirm visit of Ukrainian delegation and states EU isn’t ready for the negotiations over Association Agreement

Maja Kosjancic, official spokesperson of EU
Catherine Ashton
(Image: Voice of Serbia)

EU is not planning to open the new rounds of negotiations with Ukrainian government over the text of the already initialed Association and Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and European Union, stated Maja Kosjancic, official spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, head of EU diplomacy. In addition to that Mrs. Kosjancicdidn’t confirm also official visit of Ukrainian delegation to Brussels, which was announced by Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov on Tuesday during the emergency session of Parliament.

According to the words of Catherine Ashton’s representatives there are also no talks in EU regarding compensations for Ukraine in case it will sign an Association Agreement.

Ukrainian Parliament failed to vote for government’s resignation amid the continuous massive protests all over Ukraine

Massive anti-government rallies in Kyiv
(Image: INews)

Tens of thousands of protesters have gathered since the morning on Tuesday in front of the building of Ukrainian Parliament as the Parliament was expected to discuss the non-confidence motion to the government and its resignation initiated recently by the oppositional forces.

People have filled all the area in front of the Parliament, though the situation is tense with the alternative meeting of Yanukovich’s and government’s supporters gathered in front of the Parliament as well. There were reportedly nearly 150 people among the supporters of the current authorities; they were cordoned by the police forces in order to avoid their mixing with the anti-governmental protests. Additional security forces have been deployed on the scene with the entrances to the building blocked and lines of riot police and special forces “Berkut” and standing in front of the protesters.

Ukraine is in turmoil for the second day. First statements of officials and authorities start to appear

Massive protests against the regime of Victor Yanukovich
in Kyiv
(Image: UK Wikipedia)

Ukrainian revolution is ongoing for the second day with tens of thousands of people protesting in downtown Kyiv and in other cities all over Ukraine and several administrative buildings taken by protesters.

Massive rally against Ukrainian current authorities and President Victor Yanukovich has started in Ukraine on Sunday, 1 December, after riot police and security forces have violently beaten the peaceful protesters in the sit-in on Independence Square in Kyiv. According to the estimations of the journalists and participants of the protests there were between 750 thousand and 1 million people in Ukrainian capital. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians are protesting in other cities as well including Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and other cities, even in Southern and Eastern regions, the regions traditionally supporting Victor Yanukovich and his political power.

Ukraine: Yanukovich has made an official statement regarding the morning bloodshed in Kyiv, 16 hours after the events

Victor Yanukovich, current President of Ukraine
(Image: Lithuania Tribune)

After more than 16 hours of silence since peaceful sit-in on Kyiv’s Independence Square was violently dispersed by security forces and riot police and tens of thousands of Ukrainians gathered for the massive protests against the current regime in the country, Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich has made an official statement published on his official website.

Here is the text of this statement:

“I am deeply offended and resentful with the events that took place in the night on the Independence Square.

I condemn the acts caused the violent confrontation and suffering of the people.

Several days ago I openly declared in front of all Ukraine about support of the peaceful demonstrations and non-violent acts.

Ukraine: Violent dispersal of peaceful pro-European sit-in on Independence Square ended the legitimacy of Yanukovich’s regime

Violent dispersal of sit-in on Independence Square
(Image: AP)

Peaceful sit-in of the supporters of European integration on Kyiv’s iconic Independence Square was violently dispersed by special units of riot police in early hours of Saturday, 30 November.

After Cabinet of Ministers’ statement regarding suspending of processes of preparation to the signing of the Association Agreement with EU and the failure of Vilnius Summit, where the Agreement wasn’t signed, tens of thousands of people remain in the squares and main streets of Ukrainian capital and other cities as well. Peaceful demonstrations calling for the European path and implementing of European values in the country have turned into the rallies calling for changing the power of the state if Victor Yanukovich will not make everything possible to sign the Agreement.