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What happened in Kiev's Maidan? - REPORTING - PHOTOSESSION

REPORTING - PHOTOSESSION '>

30 November 2013 16:18 (UTC +04:00)

Kiev. Farid Akberov – APA. Police forces have dispersed pro-EU integration protesters in Kiev, Ukraine. At about 04:00, the protesters, who remained in the square, clashed with the police.

As a result of the operation conducted by the “Berkut” special police forces, 31 pro-EU integration protesters were detained, several people were injured. At present, the square has been cordoned off by the police. No one is allowed to enter the area except street cleaners.

APA’s special correspondent was in Kiev’s Independence Square (became famous as Maidan Nezalezhnosti after the orange revolution) when the protest was being held and dispersed by police.

The center of Ukraine’s capital – Maidan

We are in the place, where pro-Europe Ukrainians are holding a protest. The number of protesters is gradually growing. Since the evening, the buses full of people have been arriving in Maidan from the other oblasts of Ukraine, especially from western oblast. The “Berkut” special police forces have been deployed at the site. Traffic has been restricted in Khreshchatyk, the main street of the capital.

No political party’s flag is raised in the square. The demonstrators regard it as a unanimous position of the Ukrainian people on EU integration. The red and black flags of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army living in West Ukraine, blue flags of Crimean Tatars and the flags of Ukraine and the European Union are being waved in the square. In the streets towards Maidan, the portraits of the imprisoned Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and the Western Ukrainians, who stand against Russia, and photos reflecting their battles against the Soviet regime are being demonstrated and anti-Russian slogans are being chanted.

One can see people of all ages in Maidan. Everyone from teenagers to older people was together chanting “We want Europe, we are already Europeans”.

74-year-old Kiev resident: “When I tell my grandchildren about the Soviet times, they are horrified”

74-year-old Kiev resident Irina says that Ukraine is a part Europe: “We lived under the Russian empire and the Soviet Republic. This regime has exploited us. Enough! I have already lived my life. But I should think about the future of my children and grandchildren. I can not turn a blind eye to the fact how they are being exploited like us. When I tell my grandchildren about the Soviet times, they are horrified. Must we return to this period now? My sister lives in Europe. We often visit her. When we see the life there, we understand how we have been ruining our life for years. It is high time to wake up. We have been asleep for years, but we have already awoken. We must integrate into Europe. If the current authorities don’t want it, they must resign. We will never return to the Soviet period!”

Crimean Tatars: “Russia, keep your hands off!”

Crimean Tatars with the flags of Ukraine, the EU and Crimea were chanting various slogans such as “Russia, get away, keep your hands off!” Head of the Secretariat of the Majlis of Crimean Tatar People Zair Smedlyaev says that only God knows what they were suffering under the Russian Empire: “The Russian Empire perished our people. It was followed by the Soviet regime. They also continued to perish us. They exiled Crimean Tatars to various places to achieve assimilation. 46 per cent of our people were annihilated when Crimean Tatars were deported in 1944. We do not want Russia, we want free Europe. Sometimes they say Europe suppresses Muslims. There are more mosques in London than in Moscow, though there are more Muslims in Moscow than in London. Azerbaijanis, Uzbeks, Tajiks are killed in Moscow and other regions of Russia."

Smedlyayev said Ukraine wants to integrate into Europe and Crimean Tatars also support them.

"We want Europe, it is our right to live in free and safe conditions. We do not want to be under an imperialist state," he said.

Vitali Klitschko: “Being in opposition we have decided to go to the presidential elections with a single candidate”

Despite zero temperature, more and more people came to Maidan. The demonstrators shouted in Ukrainian "Bandu hef" (Gang go away!), “Freedom to Yulia" “Zek, go away” (“Prisoner, go away!” - As Yanukovych was imprisoned, they call him so), benders chanted slogans “Slava Ukrayna - Heroyam slava”, “Razom syla” (“Power is in unity”), “Hanyba” (“Disgrace”).

After Maidan was crowded with demonstrators, leaders of social organizations and political parties began to make speeches. First of all, heads of strike committees of universities addressed the demonstrators. Following this, Maidan activist Yegor Sobolev, former Interior Minister Yuri Lutsenko, opposition leaders Vitali Klitschko, Oleg Tyagnibok, Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Maidan movement will be continued. "We have chosen Europe. We are already Europeans. If Yanukovych does not want it, he should resign," they said.

Opposition leaders said they will overthrow Yanukovych through impeachment. Head of “UDAR” party Vitali Klitschko underlined that Ukraine has chosen development towards Europe, there is no way back.

“Yanukovych, who does not want this, should leave. Being in opposition we have decided to go to the presidential elections with a single candidate,” he said.

The demonstration that started with Ukraine's state anthem ended with declaration and state anthem performed by singer Ruslana. After the demonstration was over, about 1000 people remained in Maidan. They said they would spend night in Maidan. But the police demanded them to leave Maidan.

Yulia, who has spent the night in Maidan for more than a week, says she is not afraid of the police. She said they would remain in the square until Yanukovych quits.

At 4:00 the police began to disperse the demonstrators from Maidan using force. Clashes occurred between the police and protesters. Those who resisted to the police were taken to police departments. No one but the police and street cleaners are in Maidan now.