2014-11-21 18:30:00

Ukraine commemorates 1st anniversary of Euromaidan Revolution


(Vatican Radio) Ukraine commemorated Friday the first anniversary of a bloody revolt that ousted the pro-Russian president and five Western-leaning parties said they had agreed on a coalition government. 

But the commemoration and political announcement were overshadowed by frustration over a perceived lack of justice as expressed by relatives of those who died in the revolution.  

Listen to the report by Stefan Bos

At a sombre ceremony President Petro Poroshenko placed a candle for those known as the Heaven's Hundred, the 100 mainly people who perished on Kiev's Independence Square, locally called Maidan. 

Their battle became known as the "Euromaidan" revolution against Kremlin-backed President Viktor Yanukovych 

RELATIVES FRUSTRATED

The protests broke out after he refused to sign an association agreement with the European Union. Yet the current pro-Western President Poroshenko also faced anger, especially from relatives who lost loved ones in the revolution. 

They expressed their anger that the Heaven's Hundred have not yet been recognized as "national heroes" which would give widows and other family members some financial benefits. 

The relatives, frustrated by Poroshenko's failure to bring officials of the previous government to justice, shouted, "Who is a hero for you, Poroshenko?", "Where are their killers?" and "Down with Poroshenko!"

President Poroshenko later returned, pledging near candles placed as a cross that those who perished would become national heroes. 

VICE PRESIDENT 

U.S. vice president Joe Biden was to have attended the ceremony, but that visit was cancelled apparently amid security concerns. Biden met Poroshenko in Kiev however, where he condemned Russia's perceived aid to pro-Russian separatists in the east and demanded that Moscow supports a ceasefire. 

But Biden also urged President Poroshenko to back a new government that would develop democratic institutions, more integration with Europe and in his words “route out the cancer of corruption.” 

Five pro-Western parties want to meet that challenge. They announced they had agreed on a coalition that would also seek European Union and NATO membership. The agreement came after weeks of negotiations following recent elections. 

 








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