You're reading: Confusion about number of attendees at the anti-Maidan rally

 A large crowd gathered on European Square in central Kyiv at noon on Saturday for an “All-Ukraine Rally” in support of the president’s policies regarding Europe and to call for an end to civil unrest. Just how large the crowd is depends on who is counting: organizers pegged attendance at 200,000, while others estimate that the square and nearby streets could accommodate only about 60,000.

The rally, organized by the Party of Regions, civil and youth organizations and labor groups, is in support of the course taken by President Viktor Yanukovych, organizers said in a statement. The release said that many Kyivans are among the participants. Eyewitnesses say the rally attendees are mainly doctors, teachers, miners, students, and pensioners.

Crowd estimates generally are subject to inflation. The Interior Ministry said about 20,000 people took part in the National Assembly rally at European Square on November 24, while organizers of that protest claimed 100,000 were in attendance.

You can find the original article in Ukrainian on the Ukrainska Pravda website: http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/12/14/7006871/