Ukrainians protest ‘political repression’

Chanting “Freedom to Yulia!” at least 5,000 activists from three opposition movements took to the streets in the capital city Kiev on Monday to protest against the government of President Viktor Yanukovich who is currently in Brussels for a key summit with European Union leaders.

“Our slogan is ‘Ukraine in Europe, Ukraine without Yanukovich’,” said a member from jailed ex-premier Tymoshenko’s Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party, while expressing crowd sentiment to expel Yanukovich from office and urge European integration for Ukraine.

The Batkivshchyna party, boxer Vitali Klitschko’s Udar (Punch) party, and the nationalist party Svoboda organized the protest to rally against the imprisonment of Yanukovich’s rivals.

The jailing of Tymoshenko on charges of abuse of office has also intensified resentment against the administration and helped consolidation of dissident groups.


The jailed ex-Premier has been convicted of overstepping her authority while negotiating a gas deal with Russia in 2009. She says she’s innocent and accuses President Viktor Yanukovych of throwing her in jail to bar her from last October’s parliamentary elections.

Yanukovich, who has been president for three years, has rejected calls to free his rival, arguing that she has been sentenced by an independent court.

Critics say Yanukovich’s push to centralize power and crack down on opposition movements have led to popular discontent and a dramatic slide in support for his government.

This comes as Yanukovich met with EU leaders in Brussels this week to negotiate an aid package valued at about 610 million euros for the ex-Soviet country.

GMA/JR

Source Article from http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/02/25/290773/ukrainians-protest-against-repression/

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