You're reading: Klitschko calls for a national strike

Ukrainians have to hold a warning all-Ukrainian strike for the current authorities and then organize an indefinite nationwide strike, until their voices are heard, UDAR Party leader Vitali Klitschko has said.

According to the party’s press service, while speaking on Independence Square in Kyiv on Sunday, Klitschko said that nobody thought a few months ago that such a large number of Ukrainian citizens would rally in the center of the Ukrainian capital.

“But we were forced to do so. We were forced to stand for our rights and our dignity. And I want to say that we won’t retreat, no matter which provocations the authorities organize, no matter how they intimidate us and drive us out of here,” he said.

Klitschko said he was confident that there must be a complete change of power by holding early presidential and parliamentary elections.

“Instead of realizing such a way out of a political crisis – and it’s a deep political crisis when the people stand for one-and-a-half months, the regime of [Ukrainian President Viktor] Yanukovych demonstrates its unwillingness to hear the people and resorts to provocations, repression and intimidation,” he said.

He added that despite the protests in the country, “the authorities are continuing an anti-government policy by saving on social benefits, not resolving the issue of wage arrears, and terrorizing people.”