(Vatican Radio) Witnesses say at least 50,000 opponents of Ukraine's President Viktor
Yanukovich and his government rallied in central Kiev on Sunday, following earlier
violent confrontations with riot police. The latest rally was an attempt to revive
the pro-European Union protest movement after a Christmas and New Year break.
Ukrainians continued the massive street protests in Kyev's Independence Square
which began in November, after President Viktor Yanukovich refused to sign a free
trade agreement with the EU. He opted instead for closer ties with Russia, as Moscow
lowered prices of natural gas exports and spent 15 billion dollars on Ukrainian government
bonds.
Sunday's protest followed riots. Since late Friday, people confronted
baton-wielding riot police who tried to disperse protesters outside a Kiev courthouse,
where activists were sentenced to six-years imprisonment for allegedly trying to blow
up a statue of late Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin.
The confrontation sparked
clashes in which at least ten people were injured. Among the seriously injured is
opposition leader and former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko, who was rushed to hospital,
after being attacked by police, explained his wife Iryna. "He has suffered concussion
and head injuries which were stitched. Yuriy is still in a critical condition, but
he can talk", she told reporters.
Yet, despite the perceived threats of
more police violence, opposition leaders said Sunday they would continue to fight
and protest peacefully. Vitaly Klitschko, an opposition leader and former heavyweight
boxing champion, accused the authorities of using "the militia as a weapon to silence
the people's mouth."
Others urged the West to impose sanctions against senior
state officials for using violence against protesters. Western countries have expressed
concern about the political situation in the former Soviet republic, with the U.S.
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations due to hold a special hearing on Ukraine on
January 15th. Yet unless the vote is brought forward, a presidential race
is only expected next year.