As 2,000 protestors gathered on Independence Square to voice opposition to a U.S.-led war, police detain 19 of an unregistered religious organization seeking to stage a pro-war counter-demonstration
209;led war on Iraq.
Anti‑globalists backed by musicians led a peaceful “Rock Against War” protest joined by Communists, Socialists, Kurds, pacifists and rank‑and‑file Ukrainians who chanted “No war against Iraq.”
Hundreds of protesters wore stickers and carried signs depicting a dead body lying before a gas pump with “50,000 dead” registered on the meter saying “No blood for oil.”
“We’re against all wars, Chechnya, Palestine, everything,” said Fedir Lynov, 21, who described himself as an anti‑globalist.
Other people carried posters reading “U.S.‑Evil Empire” and “American Imperialism: Yesterday Vietnam, Today Iraq, Tomorrow Ukraine.”
Natalya Mostenko, 45, was one of several people carrying a portrait of Saddam Hussein.
“He opposes American dictatorship and so do I,” she said.
Protesters planned to conduct a “peace march” of some 5 kilometers through the city to the U.S. Embassy.
Meanwhile, 19 Ukrainian nationalists were detained as they marched with sticks in their hands and carrying signs in support of an attack on Iraq, Kyiv police spokesman Ihor Bolgar said.
The demonstrators were reported to be carrying signs saying “For war in Iraq,” and “Glory to Jesus Christ.”
They were detained as they ascended Andriivsky Uzviz towards Independence Square, where the anti‑war demonstrators were gathered at the time.
According to UNIAN, the demonstrators were members of an unregistered religious organization called Bratstvo.
Bolgar said they did not have permission to hold a demonstration.
It was unclear why the group supported a possible war.
However, Bratstvo representative Andry Baloh said at a press conference on Feb. 19 that the police acted improperly since the organizations had obtained permission for the action. He said the organization would sue the police who detained them.
