Thousands of protestors rallied outside of the National Bank of Ukraine in central Kyiv on Nov. 15. The protests were intended to draw attention to the central bank’s alleged failure to protect depositors as dozens of banks in Ukraine have been closed due to insider fraud and poor lending practices. Thousands of people have lost much of their savings, which are insured by the state up to a total of only Hr 200,000. Ukraine’s bank sector losses are more than $11 billion, including insured losses, uninsured losses and money owed the central bank by failed institutions. Some observers said that the Nov. 15 protesters were hired to demonstrate as part of an orchestrated campaign against the central bank and its governor, Valeria Gontareva.
