Representatives of a movement against land sale reform in Ukraine have resumed their protest outside the Verkhovna Rada headquarters in Kyiv, urging the Ukrainian parliament not to pass a bill on opening up the country’s agricultural land market.
Several hundred farmers, representatives of trade unions, and members of nationalist parties have gathered on Constitution Square, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.
Protesters also blocked a number of roads in the center of the Ukrainian capital. Several dozen demonstrators have brought traffic to a standstill at an intersection of Tsytadelna Street and Lavrska Street and at an intersection of Lypska Street and Instytutska Street.
Traffic on Hrushevskoho Street toward the government compound has ground to a halt as well. The lane leading in the opposite direction is being opened to vehicle traffic from time to time.
Police are maintaining order during the rally, rerouting traffic.
There is an enhanced presence of the Ukrainian National Guard and National Police at the Verkhovna Rada and the buildings housing parliamentary committees.
