Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Hryschenko's speech in the hall of Opera and Ballet Theater, where the Fifth World Forum of Ukrainians in Kyiv is being held, was interrupted by one forum participant: "Ukrainians! How long will we listen to this Moscow moskal?" (Moskal is a derogatory word for a Russian).
Hryschenko, during his speech at the Fifth World Forum of Ukrainians in Kyiv on Friday, has read out a welcoming statement to the forum participants from President Viktor Yanukovych and and said that Ukraine is continuing to fight corruption.
"Work in this area [the fight against corruption] will continue with respect to representatives of all political forces, including, first and foremost, pro-government forces, and, above all, this will be done in line with law," he said.
Hryschenko also called on the forum participants to put forward their proposals for a draft state program of cooperation with foreign Ukrainians, which was developed for the period until 2015.
An Interfax-Ukraine reporter said that the minister’s speech was interrupted by one forum participant, who called him "Moscow moskal"
After that, some of those present in the hall started shouting "Shame!" The forum continued after the presiding chairman intervened. However, when the shouts were heard again, the forum participants demanded that they be not prevented from hearing the minister.
However, the minister’s speech was interrupted several more times, with somebody again shouting, "Shame!" When reading out the president’s statement, two members of the forum came onto the stage with a banner reading, "Bandocracy – Away!" which was met with applause in the hall. Forum participants also shouted: "Shame on the Ukrainian president! Shame on Yanukovych!"
A member of the forum’s presidium, Dmytro Pavlychko, while addressing the participants, said: "We can shout ‘Shame!’ but we cannot unite. This is our fault. There’s no need to chant ‘Shame!’
