Thousands of people began arriving in downtown Kyiv by noon on Jan. 22 to take part in ceremonies marking the 92nd anniversary of Unity Day (Den Sobornosti).
The civil society Internet portal Maidan is reporting that police are again preventing demonstrators from traveling to Kyiv to participate in planned gatherings organized by political parties critical of government policies.
Law-enforcement agencies in late 2010 did the same, preventing busloads of anti tax code protesters from traveling to the capital.
Bus drivers in Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk have cancel planned trips to Kyiv because of police pressure, according to the site.
Opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko has invited supporters to assemble on St. Sophia square at 2 p.m..
City officials say about 3,000 policemen will be deployed in the capital to keep order.
Accompanied by Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn, President Viktor Yanukovych at 11:00 a.m. laid a wreath at the Taras Shevchenko monument in front of the national university named after the Ukrainian writer who lived from 1814-1861. Yanukovych and his entourage are expected to attend a Unity Day holiday concert at the Palace of Ukraine.
Kyiv officials have announced temporary outdoor food markets in most of Kyiv’s districts and an all-day concert on Independence Square, starting at 11 a.m., followed by a fireworks display after it gets dark.
Article 39 of the Constitution of Ukraine clearly states:
“Citizens have the right to assemble peacefully without arms and to hold meetings, rallies, processions and demonstrations upon notifying in advance the executive authorities or local self governments.”
About 2,000 Ukrainians gathered on St. Sophia square and in front of Mikhaylovsky Sobor by noon on Unity Day.
Eldery men hold up a sign, reading "Ukrainian authorities give off the odor of Russian hegemony," on Sophia Square on Jan. 22.
