EuroMaidan rallies in Ukraine - Dec. 2 coverage - Dec. 03, 2013

Editor's Note: The Kyiv Post is providing continuous coverage of the protests in Kyiv and other cities following the government's decision on Nov. 21 to stop European Union integration and end pursuit of an association agreement. The rallies started on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) and are continuing after the Nov. 28-29 summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, at which Ukraine and the EU failed to reach any agreement. The events can be followed on Twitter using hashtags #euromaidan and #євромайдан or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EuroMaydan.

Yanukovych speaks about seizure of public buildings by protesters

Dec. 2, 7:07 p.m. President Viktor Yanukovych says he is indignant at the seizure of administrative buildings in Kyiv on Sunday, and urged the authorities and the opposition to unite to investigate all the circumstances of recent developments related to mass rallies.”Why did they do that – seize Kyiv City Administration, hide behind children?” Yanukovych said in a televised interview with Ukrainian channels on Monday, according to the President’s official website. “I really do not like that. I am against using children, using such methods,” he said. —Interfax-Ukraine

First pro-European tent set up in Donetsk

Dec. 2, 5:57 p.m. A local online news portal in Donetsk is reporting that pro-European protesters have set up the first EuroMaidan tent in the eastern industrial city.

The group, ngo.donetsk.ua, reports that the tent was placed indoors because of a court order banning the erection of tents for protests. It is now located in the office of Committee of Voters of Ukraine, the local branch of a nationwide election watchdog group.

It mentions that pro-European protesters have gathered near the monument since Nov. 22. Activists have been handing out literature about the European Union. – Mark Rachkevych

Defying weather, more protesters arrive to Maidan

Dec. 2, 4:38 p.m. The crowds on Maidan Nezalezhnosti swelled to tens of thousands again as the day went by. Some are listening to speakers on the stage, others are attending to their temporary housing in tens. Men are chopping woods, building a big kitchen and dining room under a tent. Piles of warm clothes are lying by the entrance to opposition headquarters at Hall of Trade Unions, donated by Kyiv residents.

Around 50 military tents are set up on the square, and their number keeps growing. There are also several smaller tourists tents set up along the road.

A tall guy is chewing a sandwich by a small tourist tent with a national Ukrainian flag on a top and the words “Kolomyia” written on it. His name is Vitaliy Leman, and he just arrived to Kyiv in the morning to protest, saying all his whole town in western Ukraine has risen. “I’m going to stay here till the very end, till the moment when Yanukovych leaves his post,” Leman told the Kyiv Post, adding that if it takes weeks to win, he will be ready to stay in his tent despite cold. –-Oksana Grytsenko

Athletically-built men filmed side-by-side with riot police in Marinsky Park (VIDEO)

Dec. 2, 4:16 p.m.

National Guard troops arrive, stationed at key government buildings

Dec. 2, 4:07 p.m. The Interior Ministry announced that some 1,000 National Guard troops have arrived in Kyiv and have been stationed around key government buildings to provide additional security and to relieve law enforcement personnel who havew been on duty for lengthy times. – Mark Rachkevych

Dec. 2, 2:27 p.m. The parliament committe on statehood and self-governance recommended a vote of no-confidence in Prime Minister Mykola Azarov’s government, opening a way for such a vote on Dec. 3. But Party of Regions faction leader Oleksandr Yefremov said earlier in the day that his faction will not support the motion.

Oppositional parties control less than 240 votes in parliament if independent deputies and those who have quit the ruling Party of Regions decide to support their motion. At least three Party of Regions members have said in the past two days that they will be quitting, but only one has filed resignation papers, Speaker Volodymyr Rybak said. — Katya Gorchinskaya

National Guard deployed to secure government buildings

Dec. 2, 1:20 p.m. Some 1,000 natural guard troops have been deployed to help secure state government buildings, says an official announcement by the interior troops under the Interior Ministry.

“By order of the interior minister of Ukraine, and in connected to large-scale protests in the capital (of Kyiv), in order to ensure public order in the city of Kyiv, additional strength will be utilized,” reads the announcement.

It adds that the decision was made foremost to replace military personnel who have on duty for a long time.

Protesters have occupied the Kyiv City Hall and the main labor union building in downtown Kyiv. The Presidential Administration and Cabinet of Ministers buildings have been the sight of fights and scuffles between police and protesters over the past week. – Mark Rachkevych

Festive mood at Cabinet building

Dec. 2, 1: 22 p.m. About 3,000 people are staying by the empty Cabinet building. Some protesters are dancing, the mood is cheerful. People hold Ukrainian and EU flags and posters reading like “Ukraine made its European choice.” There several thoudan protesters on Maidan Nezalezhnosti also, and several dozen of tens set up. By the headquarters, located in the seized Trade Union building, there are many volunteers stationed. People bring them warm clothes and cash donations for protesters. — Oksana Grytsenko

Maidan fortified, city hall still occupied, Lenin stands unguarded

Dec. 2, noon Protesters are taking no chances as they fenced themselves in on Independence Square. The streets that form a perimeter around the square have been blocked off with makeshift fences using a variety of materials, including steel, wood, pieces of the fake Christmas tree that municipal employees wanted to erect, etc.

City hall is still occupied by protesters. Windows are smashed in and graffiti litters the building’s façade. Signs say lawmakers have set up offices inside the building to speak with constituents.

Kyiv’s main statue to Vladimir Lenin stands unguarded by uniformed police or security guards. Several men stand nearby dressed in civilian clothes, but their role is not clear. It was the scene of scuffles on the night of Dec. 1 as protesters attempted to take it down. – Mark Rachkevych

Dec. 2, 11: 59 a.m. Speaker Volodymyr Rybak again called on the government, the opposition and the civil society to sit at a roundtable and find a way out of the current gridlock. “This situation can no longer last, it is hurting the state,” he said. He said that he sees no dialog as of yet, only “ultimatums.” — Katya Gorchinskaya

Dec. 2, 11: 36 a.m. Inna Bohoslovska, a former Party of Regions member who quit her party and faction in the wake of police brutality against peaceful demonstrators on Nov. 30, called on government to resign. “Issue of government’s resignation needs to be solved as otherwise the street (proterster) will start crashing the buildings, and it will start from parliament,” she said at the parliament meeting on Dec. 2.. She added that parliament will be blocked if tomorrow the government doesn’t resign. — Oksana Grytsenko.

Dec. 2, 11: 23 a.m. Ukraine’s general council in Turkey Bohdan Yaremenko was called off from his post by Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara for his critical posting on social networks about recent events in Ukraine, particularly, the brutal beating of peaceful protesters on Nov. 30 by the riot police. On his Facebook page he said that he received a letter from Kozhara that cuts his foreign posting short and orders him to arrive to Ukraine by Dec. 7.

Dec. 2, 11:19 a.m. As western Ukrainian city of Lviv announced a general strike, with only schools, kindergartens and hospitals operational, some eastern Ukrainian townships have called to conduct emergency sessions of regional councils to express support to President Viktor Yanukovych. LB.ua reported that Kirovohrad oblast council will hold such a session, and there is only one point on the agenda — to express support to the central government. Other reports suggested that Odesa will have a similar meeting.

Dec. 2, 11:06 a.m. About 1,000 demonstrators remain outiside of the Cabinet building, while hundreds of others hover around Maidan Nezalezhnosti. Barricades remains in place. The most prominent symbols on the central square are Svoboda’s flags and red-and-black flags of radical nationalist parties. —Katya Gorchinskaya

Cabinet officials go home

Dec. 2, 10:00 a.m. Cabinet officials were sent home after failing to get into the main government building, which is blocked by the protesters, news agencies reported. Reports of social networks suggested that other government officials, including National Bank workers, were told to stay at home because of unrest in the city center. —Katya Gorchinskaya

Protesters start to walk to the Cabinet

Dec. 2, 7:00 a.m. Protesters start to walk to the Cabinet building to demand resignation of the government, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reports. Before the walk started, Yuriy Lutsenko, one of the opposition leaders, reminded people to stay calm and not fall for provocations.

Protesters set up defensive perimeter around Independence Square

Dec. 2, 1:46 a.m. In what appears to be a fixed, defensive perimeter, protesters have barricaded themselves on Independence Square using much of the sheer flat steel fences to their aid in stark contrast to earlier staged rallies that saw musical concerts and other entertainment. Fortification works continue in a clear sign that the rules of the game have changed.

Most people who remain on Maidan and young and male, some of them prepare makeshift weapons, such as sticks and bottles.— Katya Gorchinskaya

Opposition calls to start blocking government buildings at 6 a.m.

Dec. 2, 1:16 a.m. Opposition said they will start blocking government buildings at 6 a.m. Oleksandr Turchynov, a leader of Batkivshchyna party, said Intytutska and Khreshchatyk Streets will be blocked. “We will stay until (the government) resigns,” his party website quotes him as saying.

An estimated 5,000 people still remain on the streets in central Kyiv. —Katya Gorchinskaya

Protesters and police settle for the night in seized building

Dec. 2, 12:19 a.m. Protesters inside the seized Trade Unions building are settling for the night. Some are sleeping on the floor. The building was seized by the protesters earlier in the day. In the meantime, 17 buses parked by Franko theater nearby were housing riot police who were also settling for the night, according to eyewitnesses. Each one of the buses has about 50 policemen. — Anastasiya Vlasova

SEE KYIV POST COVERAGE OF THE NOV. 30 POLICE CRACKDOWN ON EUROMAIDAN HERE:

Interior minister justifies police attacks to EU, US ambassadors

Back to the Middle Ages on the way to Europe: Beaten Kyiv protesters take refuge in church yard

Yanukovych says police beatings not his fault

Kyiv police chief admits ordering attack on EuroMaidan protesters

Opposition under fire for failure to protect protesters

Vox Populi with Daryna Shevchenko: How should the nation react to police violence against protesters?

Victims describe excessive, indiscriminate attacks

Lyovochkin, Yanukovych’s chief of staff, resigns

Police say protesters provoked violence

Police attack on Kyiv’s EuroMaidan demonstrators draws international outrage

Police were ‘like a machine cleaning the street,’ says a beating victim