A month ago, on Nov. 21, people took to the streets in protest of the government’s decision to abandon a far-reaching political and trade agreement with the European Union. Today, EuroMaidan demonstrators marked their "little victory" -- as they called it -- in enduring police brutality and cold weather to keep up the vigil for democracy and against President Viktor Yanukovych.
Day and night, people come and go, with hard-core protesters camping out overnight. Crowds range from several hundred to several hundred thousand people during the big Sunday rallies. A fifth consecutive Sunday rally is planned for Dec. 22. For most of the day on Dec. 21, only a the crowd that congregated in above-freezing temperatures ranged from 3,000 to 5,000 loyalists.
Many activists on Dec. 21 had a hard time recalling what EuroMaidan looked like during its first days. Others, however, went to the same spot as they did on Nov. 21. Several dozen people spread out the EU flag and sang Ukraine’s national anthem in the same place that they did a month ago.
Since then, Kyiv’s main square has been transformed into a city within a city with its own guards, leaders,
cooks and cleaners.
The signs near the barricades help navigate the way for visitors. One just needs to choose an entrance – Horodetskoho Street, Khreshchatyk Street or European Square. Then smile at the entrance guard.
The signs inside the corridors point to the main stage, IT booth or EuroMaidan’s
university. About 100 people gathered near the sign “Open University” to listen to Tetyana
Montyan, a Ukrainian lawyer who was lecturing on housing and property rights.
The columns are used for advertisements. Among dozens of posts one can find not
only information about accommodation on Maidan, but good advice: “Students! Don’t
forget to call your parents. They’re worrying about you. Use the free mobile in the IT tent,” reads
one of the posts.
Some four booths with Kozaks — nationalist warriors in history — from all over Ukraine appeared on Khreshchatyk Street near the main
post office. They have stood vigil since Nov. 30 and most of them say they are ready to stand until the
end.
“We keep an eye on everything that happens here,” said one of the guards, Vasyl Bayanek, 62, of Odesa. “We are patrolling Maidan for Berkut and ‘titushki’ (hired thugs and provocateurs) as we don’t want to have a police state here.”
Rules against smoking and drinking continue to be enforced. “We need sober people as anything may
happen,” Bayanek explained.
The Kozak booth draws big interest, from children and journalists alike. “Today we even have a reporter from Philipinnes,” Bayanek boasted. “The situation in the country looks grim, but here we share the festive and peaceful mood. I’m sure we’ll make it until the victory. This government will do no harm to us.”
Maryana Temnyk, 20, is the only female guard near the barricades. “But I’m
rather kind of moral support here,” Temnyk said. The university student came alone from Sambir in western Ukraine and is ready to celebrate New Year and Christmas far from
home in this “positive atmosphere.”
“We believe in better future for Ukraine. And I feel safe here,” Temnyk said.
The commitment is shared. “I’m afraid I just
couldn’t go away from Maidan. The real life is here,” said Serhiy Mostoviy, 45, who spent
three weeks on Maidan Nezalezhnosti.
“I came from Kremenchuk right after Nov. 30, because our mission is to be here. I’ve found so
many great people among the activists: they know what they are standing for,” Mostoviy said. “People need support and they can find it here easily. Such events help to identify who’s who. You cannot hide your real intentions, when you are involved here. And I’m happy
that our Maidan now is a real community.”
A group of musicians from Ivano Frankivsk Oblast performs on the stage. They sing traditional
Hutsul folk songs, kolomyikas. “It’s high time for us, Ukrainians, to become a nation,” according to the last line of the song.
The activists burst into applause. Life goes on at EuroMaidan, now in its second month.
Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Goncharova can be reached at [email protected]
