(Vatican Radio)As many as half a million pro-European Union Ukrainians have rallied
in the capital Kiev Sunday for a massive protest aimed at forcing President Viktor
Yanukovych and the government to resign after rejecting an EU trade deal under pressure
from neighboring Russia. During the protests an angry crowd also toppled a statue
of late Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin.
Waving EU and Ukrainian flags thousands
of demonstrators gathered at Kyiv's iconic Independence Square, watched by European
parliamentarians.
It's the same location where nine years ago Ukraine's
pro-freedom Orange Revolution began.
Ukranians demand the resignation of
what they view as the autocratic President Victor Yanukovich and the government after
they refused to sign the European Union Association Agreement.
Demonstrators
are concerned about a possible imminent Customs Union between Ukraine and neighboring
Russia. Ukrainian President Yanukovich and Russia's Vladimir Putin have denied discussing
an economic marriage.
Yet protesters remain suspicious. They aren''t alone.
European Parliamentarians from Poland, Germany and Spain have visited Kyiv to show
their support for the pro-EU rallies.
Polish member of the European Parliament
Jerzy Buzek, a former prime minister, said he hopes their presence will restrain Ukrainian
authorities from using more violence against demonstrators.
"We would also
try to avoid any violence in the future and the brutal attack of peaceful demonstrators,"
Buzek told reports. "I believe our presence here could also support this specific
point,” he added.
Jailed Ukrainian former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko
remains concerned however. She said in a statement read by her daughter that the opposition
was demanding the "immediate" resignation of President Yanukovych as he "took a decision
to join the club of dictators" and that he must answer every drop of blood that has
been shed.
She urged protesters to in her words "peacefully and legally
oust him from power." Demonstrators also demanded more freedom of expression in this
former Soviet nation as some 40 journalists were reportedly injured in attacks by
riot police last week. Listen to this report by Stefan Bos