Ukraine opposition leader on hunger strike
- 11 years ago
As pro-Europe protests in Ukraine continued into the night on Monday jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko launched a hunger strike in support.
A lawyer for the former prime minister said it was to help push President Viktor Yanukovich to think again about the government's rejection of a European Union trade pact.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) SERHIY VLASENKO, LAWYER FOR FORMER UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER YULIA TYMOSHENKO, SAYING:
"Mrs Tymoshenko is limited in her rights and in her possibilities to protest against that. So from today she announced the timeless hunger strike up till the situation when Yanukovich will sign this association agreement with the European Union in Vilnius."
New clashes broke out on Monday between riot police and the protesters after the president sought to defuse the backlash.
Nearby other demonstrators listened to speeches denouncing government policy and urging greater integration with Europe.
The speakers included Ukrainian bo
A lawyer for the former prime minister said it was to help push President Viktor Yanukovich to think again about the government's rejection of a European Union trade pact.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) SERHIY VLASENKO, LAWYER FOR FORMER UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER YULIA TYMOSHENKO, SAYING:
"Mrs Tymoshenko is limited in her rights and in her possibilities to protest against that. So from today she announced the timeless hunger strike up till the situation when Yanukovich will sign this association agreement with the European Union in Vilnius."
New clashes broke out on Monday between riot police and the protesters after the president sought to defuse the backlash.
Nearby other demonstrators listened to speeches denouncing government policy and urging greater integration with Europe.
The speakers included Ukrainian bo