Court ban vs. president’s words
Ukraine’s public officials continue to demonstrate blithe disregard for glaring discrepancies between words and actions. The Kyiv City Administration has just applied for and received a court ban on demonstrations in the centre of Kyiv from Sunday, Dec 1 to Dec. 7 (or possibly Jan. 7 2014 - the ruling was issued in the night, and there seem to be different dates written). Although the list of streets named in the application does not include St Michael’s Square where a huge rally is planned for Sunday, the ban gives enormous scope for restricting freedom of peaceful assembly and heavy-handed measures against peaceful protesters should the wish arise. Events over recent days leave no doubt that this wish is strong among Ukraine’s leaders.