Editor's Note: When new events warrant, the Kyiv Post will provide continuing coverage of the protests in Kyiv and other cities following the government's decision on Nov. 21 to stop European Union integration by rejecting an association agreement. The rallies started on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square). The events can be followed on Twitter using hashtags #euromaidan and #євромайдан or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EuroMaydan.
Watch video of EuroMaidan events here on live stream and hromadske.tv
Yatsenyuk vows regular Sunday Mezhyhyria protests if Yanukovych doesn’t meet demands
Dec. 29, 3:53 p.m. The EuroMaidan protesters who went to President Viktor Yanukovych’s palatial Mezhyhyria estate today are moving on to the houses of pro-Russian businessman Viktor Medvechuk, who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and then on to the homes of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and Verkhovna Rada speaker Volodymyr Rybak.
Arseniy Yatseniuk, head of imprisoned ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s opposition Batkivshchyna Party, said that protesters will picket Mezhyhyria permanently if Yanukovych doesn’t meet their three demands: hold everyone accountable for violence against demonstrators, including journalist Tetyana Chornovol; free peaceful protesters imprisoned; and resignation of Azarov’s government.
“If Yanukovych fails to fulfill these three requirements, our Sunday excursion becomes a permanent tour. And we will invite here all the Ukraine, all 45 million, and also the Donbass,” Yatsenyuk said, referring to Yanukovych’s home region in Donetsk Oblast. — Vlad Lavrov and Brian Bonner
Protesters get 300 meters to main entrance of Yanukovych residence
Dec. 29, 3:20 p.m. Protesters from Kyiv have made it to within 300 meters from President Viktor Yanukovych’s palatial residence in Mezhyhirya. Police earlier had set up a roadblock 1.5 kilometers from the entrance then let people to within 500 meters. Opposition leaders Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Vitali Klitschko and Oleh Tyahnybok are on the scene.
“We have 300 meters to go until victory,” said Tyahnybok. — Vlad Lavrov
Mezhyhirya police roadblock only partially free (UPDATE)
Dec. 29, 2:50 p.m. Police have only
partially freed a roadblock on the road to President Viktor Yanukovych’s
mansion, leaving a motorcade of 1,000 vehicles filled with protesters in flux 500 meters from their destination. Police have blocked entrances
to nearby yards and residences so that protesters don’t take detours through them.
Meanwhile, as of 3:15 p.m. opposition leaders Arseniy Yatseniuk, Vitali Klitschko and Oleh Tyahnybok have arrived on the scene.
“This rally is peaceful,” said Klitschko. “We want them (the government and Yanukovych) to hear us here if they don’t want to hear us on the Maidan (Independence Square).” – Daryna Shevchenko
Complaints continue over EuroMaidan,
police say
Dec. 29, 2:20 p.m. Nineteen people in the past two days have
filed complaints with the Shevchenko police department over the rally on
Independence Square and on Khreshchatyk Street, the main interior ministry
website reports.
Kyiv residents
complain of difficulty accessing their residences and getting to work, the announcement
says. – Mark Rachkevych
Police let cars through toward president’s residence
Dec. 29, 2 p.m. Police have removed a roadblock to allow a motorcade of an estimated 1,000 vehicles filled with protesters drive to Mezhyhirya where President Viktor Yanukovych lives. Earlier, the Kyiv Post witnessed two dozen police buses pass by en route towards the village of Novi Petrivtsi where the president’s swanky residence is situated. — Daryna Shevchenko
Massive police roadblock 1.5 kilometers from
Mezhyhirya
Dec. 29, 1:30 p.m. Police have set up a roadblock some 1.5 kilometers
from President Viktor Yanukovych’s lavish estate preventing a motorcade with at
least 300 people in vehicles and bicycles from making their to a rally there.
A Kamaz truck with no tag
numbers is part of the roadblock, while police reminded protesters that a court
order is in place from Dec. 1 to Jan. 7, 2014 banning mass rallies in the
village of Novi Petrivtsi where the president’s mansion is located.
Kyiv Oblast police
spokesperson Mykola Zhukovych told the Kyiv Post that the road is blocked to
prevent traffic congestion and to prevent “an imbalance.”
Small groups of pedestrians
are leaving their vehicles on the side of the road and are continuing their
trek by foot. – Daryna Shevchenko, Vlad
Lavrov
Police block road to Mezhyhyria; allow pedestrians to go through
Dec. 29, 1 p.m. The road to to Mezhyhyria is blocked by at least the road police cars, one riot-police car and two dump trucks. It looks like there is no way for a caravan to get through. Police allow pedestrians to go through, so people leave their cars and start walking to Mezhyhyria. — Daryna Shevchenko
Members of parliament will be at front and back of caravan
Dec. 29, 12:01 p.m. Organizers promise that there will be enough buses and cars for all people going to President Viktor Yanukovych’s Mezhyhyria mansion today. The line of cars will be opened and closed with opposition members of parliament to protect people. People chant “Glory to Ukraine” and “Strong Together” as people continue to gather. There are some 300 people. Zoryan Shkiryak, one of the EuroMaidan leaders, says that this is just a warning action to remind Yanukovych that there is a nation and if he doesn’t react there will be a camp outside Mezhyhyria in January. Earlier, a march was planned but organizers decided to arrange for transportation beause of the long distance and security issues. — Daryna Shevchenko, Vlad Lavrov
Christmas tree put up in front of Kyiv City Hall
Dec. 29, Noon. A decorated Christmas tree has been set up in front of the Kyiv city administration building. A Ukrainian and European Union flag were placed on top of it. – Mark Rachkevych
Police uncover
brothel near EuroMaidan
Dec. 29, 11:50 a.m.
Three persons identified as EuroMaidan demonstrators were clients of a brothel that police discovered in
an apartment on 2 Lesya Ukrainka St. near Independence Square, the Kyiv
police website announced.
Police say that when they entered the apartment, seven
prostitutes were inside and three clients, whom police say were part of the EuroMaidan protests. The sex workers told the
police that they rented the apartment to offer services and targeted men on Independence
Square. After identifying the sex workers, police said, fines were issued.
– Mark Rachkevych
Dec. 29, 11:40 a.m. — People are gathering at Heroiv Dnipra metro station, many have bikes decorated with flags and ribbons. Around 200 people have arrived. — Daryna Shevchenko
Activists
on cars, bicycles plan to take protest to Yanukovych’s Mezhyhirya
Dec. 29, 10:40 a.m.
Protesters
are getting ready to start at 12 p.m. at Heroyiv Dnipra metro station and drive
to Mezhyhirya, the luxurious and tightly guarded mansion of President Viktor
Yanukovych. Previous attempts of activists or journalists to picket the president’s house have usually been stopped by traffic police, banned by courts or
by local authorities of the village Novi Petrivtsi, where the residence is located.
“There are
only 100 brave people who have ever dared to protest near Mezhyhirya, as it was a taboo!” opposition lawmaker Olesia Orobets wrote on her Facebook
page. She added that her previous drive there ended up with “cut tires” and a “rigged
traffic accident.”
Despite
winter, Kyiv cyclists also announced plans to reach Mezhyhirya. “In fact this is
a field meeting of Maidan to come and show that we are fed up with lawlessness
and impunity,” the Kyiv Cyclists Association said in press release.
The opposition announced
on Dec. 28 that a so called “political excursion” will be held also to house of
Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and parliament speaker Volodymyr Rybak. — Oksana Grytsenko
Assistance items needed at EuroMaidan
Dec. 29, 9:45 a.m.
EuroMaidan
organizers say they need help in a field kitchen that services security teams
made up of mostly Afghan War veterans and others.
Overall, as
of Dec. 29, EuroMaidan is in need of:
Food
produce (meat, canned meat and fish, sausage, cheese, bread, etc.)
Disposable
plates, cups, forks, etc.
Firewood
Fuel
Call Oleksandr Supruniuk: +38067 382 3356;
Vasyl Kovalchuk: +38067 250 1009
— Mark Rachkevych
Twin rallies set for Dec. 29
Dec. 29, 8:15 a.m. For the sixth consecutive Sunday, Independence
Square will host what organizers have called a “national assembly” to voice their
call for a life of dignity in their nation. Starting at noon, their demands are
still the same: to call for the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych and
his government, hold early elections and install a new government to put an end
to cronyism and corruption.
Another
rally, also starting at noon, will take its demands to Yanukovych’s palatial
residence located in the village of Novi Petrivtsi, Vyshhorod district some 20
kilometers from Kyiv. The group will meet at the Heroiv Dnipra metro station
and march 12 kilometers from there to Mezhyhirya, the name of the president’s
lavish estate.
It is not clear whether Yanukovych is at his main residence today. The president’s official website doesn’t list a current travel itinerary or schedule. – Mark Rachkevych
Read the coverage of the Dec. 22 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 18 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 17 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 16 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 15 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 14 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 13 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 12 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 11 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 10 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 9 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 8 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 7 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 6 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 5 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 4 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 3 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 2 events here.
Read the morning coverage of the Dec. 1 events here, and the afternoon and evening coverage here.
