EuroMaidan rallies in Ukraine - Dec. 7 - Dec. 08, 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.

Read the coverage of the Dec. 6 events here.

Read the coverage of the Dec. 5 events here.

Read the coverage of the Dec. 4 events here.

Read the coverage of the Dec. 3 events here.

Read the coverage of the Dec. 2 events here.

Read the morning coverage of the Dec. 1 events here, and the afternoon and evening coverage here.

Watch video of EuroMaidan events here on live stream and hromadske.tv.

Activists fix broken windows in Kyiv City Hall

Dec. 7 Two activists replaced windows in Kyiv City Hall, which were broken on Dec. 1 when the activists seized the building, media reports. They said they brought the glass themselves. The activists aimed to fix around 500 broken windows there, according to Obozrevatel website. — Olena Goncharova

Roaming pro-European rally motorcade reaches Kyiv’s Obolon district

Dec. 7, 8:15 p.m. The Kyiv Post witnessed a motorcade of 12 vehicles drive down Obolon neighborhood’s main artery of Obolonsky Prospekt draped in Ukrainian and European Union national colors honking their horns. The lead car had a loud speaker that called on the public to come to Independence Square for tomorrow’s rally calling on the nation’s leadership to resign. The caravan of cars looped around Dreamtown, the district’s main shopping mall situated on the main drag of Obolonsky Prospekt and headed toward the Petrivka area to the south closer to the center of town.

Organizers expect a million people to descend on Kyiv’s central downtown area for the rally where a general plan of action will be announced. – Mark Rachkevych

Protesters target London home of Akhmetov, blame him for supporting Yanukovych

Supporters of the EuroMaidan demonstrations in Ukraine picketed the London residence of Ukraine’s richest man, Rinat Akhmetov, on Dec. 7. They blame Akhmetov for supporting President Viktor Yanukovych and bankrolling the pro-presidential Party of Regions. They say they will keep up the protests in hopes of getting Akhmetov to persuade Yanukovych for early presidential elections, according to the group’s Facebook post. The protesters, noting that Akhmetov bought Britain’s most expensive apartment at 1 Hyde Park for 136 million pounds, say he shares responsibility for the increasingly authoritarian regime and the police violence that led to more than 150 injuries among protesters. Akhmetov is a former member of parliament with the Party of Regions. There was no immediate public response from his press service. — Brian Bonner

Thousands of activists, fans enjoy Lyapis Trubetskoy band on Maidan Nezalezhnosti

Dec. 7, 7:50 p.m. Lyapis Trubetskoy, Belarusian rock band hit Kyiv’s revolutionary scene in support of Ukraine’s protesters. The concert was basically scheduled for Stereo Plaza concert hall, but the band decided to move to Maidan Nezalezhnosti. — Olena Goncharova

Ukrainian musicians, historians invite people to join rally on Independence square on Dec. 8

Dec. 7, 7:20 p.m. Euromaidan activists released 10 videos on which Ukrainian musicians, historians and civic activists are inviting Ukrainians to join the rally on Independence square on Dec.8 at 12 a.m.

“There are moments in history when it no longer depends on presidents or prime ministers, but only on you, good people. Come to Maidan on Sunday,” Ukrainian historian and art expert Vadym Skurativsky says.

“The situation which is objectively revolutionary has come about in Ukraine – the heads can no longer live as they used to, the people can no longer live as they used to. In this solidarity people are leading the politicians, not politicians people. There is no way for turning back. Come to Maidan on Sunday,” Ukrainian musician, leader of Haydamaky band Oleksandr Yarmola says.

The videos can be watched here.

UDAR party leader Vitali Klitschko has also asked Ukrainians to join Dec. 8 rally when speaking earlier today on Independence square. He wants a million people to take to streets on Dec. 8.

“Tomorrow there should be million of us and we will make (Viktor) Yanukovych fulfill our demands. Tomorrow depends on each of us. Those who can’t get to Kyiv, take to streets in your cities and show your intention to live in modern European country, the name of which is Ukraine,” Klitschko said. — Anastasia Forina

More than Hr 600,000 were raised during three weeks of EuroMaidan protests

Dec. 7, 5:15 p.m. EuroMaidan activists post their first financial statement on their Facebook page, Ukrainska Pravda reports. The coordination centre of EuroMaidan stated that about Hr 600, 000 were raised during the protests, which entered their third week. The activists listed the information about products and services they spent money on. “The money was spent mostly on medicine, food and logistic services,” Olga Galabala, one of the EuroMaidan activists said. — Olena Goncharova

Elmar Brok calls on Yanukovych to impose sanctions on those who dispersed EuroMaidan protests

Dec. 7, 4:20 p.m. Elmar Brok, who heads European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, has called on Ukrainian authorities to impose sanctions on those who dispersed EuroMaidan protesters on Nov. 30. “These people should be punished, otherwise Ukrainian authorities won’t be able to travel to the European Union countries,” Brok said. — Olena Goncharova

Activists demand media objectivity, picket three Ukrainian TV channels

Dec. 7, 3:15 p.m. Protesters formed a column on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, decided to go to the buildings of three national TV channels – First National TV channel, 1+1 and Inter. Activists demand objective coverage of EuroMaidan events, which entered their third week. They said the action is peaceful, however dozens of police officers already guarded the National TV broadcasting station (which houses First National and 1+1 TV channel offices), located on Melnykova Street in Shevchenkivsky district. — Olena Goncharova

Saakashvili worries about Ukraine

Dec. 7, 2:20 p.m. Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili says Ukraine is being raided by Russia. “Of course I’m not here to interfere in (Ukraine’s) domestic affairs, Ukrainians are to agree on that,” Saakashvili mentioned. “However, the fact that illegal takeover of sovereign European country is being made by (Vladimir) Putin’s Russia is a subject to all Europe, the whole world and all of us,” Saakashvili said at today’s meeting with UDAR party leader Vitali Klitschko and ex-prime minister of Moldova Vlad Filatov. — Anastasia Forina

Kyiv received heavy guard, Interior Ministry says

Dec. 7. 1:37 p.m. More that 4,000 law enforcement officers are involved in guarding public order in Kyiv, Interior Ministry reports. Around 6,500 in total are engaged in protecting public safety around the country. The National TV broadcasting station in Kyiv is guarded by police, as participants of the rallies have agitated to block the work of the station, the Ministry’s statement says. — Anastasia Forina

Activists picket president’s administration

Dec. 7, 1:10 p.m. Hundreds of activists gathered near Viktor Yanukovych’s presidential office in Kyiv. Someone brought the piano with EU sign on it. The atmosphere is calm, activists are singing songs in front of riot police officers. No political party flags in sight. — Olena Goncharova

Protesters await Saakashvili, European People’s Party representatives

Dec. 7, 12:30 p.m. Around 7,000 protesters gathered on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, singing national anthem, UNIAN reports. People keep coming, despite the weather conditions. Activists try to warm up near the fire in metal drums. European People’s Party representatives are planned join pro-EU protesters at 1:30 p.m. Mikheil Saakashvili speech is also scheduled for today. — Olena Goncharova

Putin, Yanukovych did not discuss Ukraine’s accession to Customs Union, according to Kremlin

Dec. 7, 12 p.m. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych met in Sochi on Friday to discuss the agenda of the bilateral interstate commission, which is to hold a session in Moscow on December 17, and they did not discuss Ukraine’s possible accession to the Belarusian-Kazakh-Russian Customs Union, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said. “Special significance was attached to cooperation in the energy field, in discussing which the parties converged their positions,” Peskov said.– Interfax-Ukraine

Saakashvili, European People’s Party representatives to join EuroMaidan

Dec. 7, 11:43 a.m. Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili along with ex-president of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek and Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, the vice president of the Eastern Partnership Project will deliver a speech on Maidan Nezalezhnosti today. Mikheil Saakashvili already met with Klitschko brothers Dec. 6. — Olena Goncharova

Party of Regions supporters gather near Verkhovna Rada

Dec. 7, 11 a.m. Hundreds of people gathered in support of ruling Party of Regions, waving party flags near Verkhovna Rada. The activists formed a column near Arsenalna metro station, not far from the parliament building. The meeting was aimed to show the support of Ukraine’s euro integration course. However, no EU flags were seen, Radio Liberty reports. — Olena Goncharova

Azarov promised to help protesters to get home

Dec, 7, 10:56 a.m. Mykola Azarov said the government is ready to help those protesters, who has no money to get home. “We heard that many protesters couldn’t come back to their cities. We want to help everyone who wants to get back to work or studying. Ukrainian government is ready to provide money to support these people,” premier’s press-service states.

Television broadcasting station heavily guarded py police

Dec. 7, 9:20 a.m. Television broadcasting station, located on 42 Melnykova St. is surrounded by hundred of policemen. The station, which houses the National Television Company of Ukraine and the National Radio Company of Ukraine is blocked by some three buses with riot police officers, media reports. — Olena Goncharova

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