Thousands clash with police in Kiev
- 12 years ago
Protesters in Kiev scuffle with police trying to block access to a government building.
Thousands of Chernobyl victims and Afghan war veterans take to the streets of the Ukrainian capital to demonstrate against benefit and pension cuts.
They also hold a minute's silence in honour of a Chernobyl survivor killed during a police raid on a protest camp on Sunday night.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) AFGHAN WAR VETERAN MYKOLA, SAYING:
"I came here because of the man who was killed in Donetsk. He was the man who turned those rich ones we have now into billionaires. And this man died because he has been working for 40 years for them. And they have come and stolen everything and as a result, the man was simply trampled on."
The former Soviet republic is trying to cut spending in order to regain access to a 15 billion U.S. dollar IMF package.
The austerity measures - which could include moves to cut health benefits and reduce pensions - face strong opposition.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CHERNOBYL VETERAN TAMARA KOROBKO, SAYING:
"When our motherland was in danger, they needed us. But now the motherland has wiped its feet on us, and nobody needs us anymore."
The rally is the latest in a string of protests by veterans in Kiev and other cities, many of which have led to clashes with police.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
Thousands of Chernobyl victims and Afghan war veterans take to the streets of the Ukrainian capital to demonstrate against benefit and pension cuts.
They also hold a minute's silence in honour of a Chernobyl survivor killed during a police raid on a protest camp on Sunday night.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) AFGHAN WAR VETERAN MYKOLA, SAYING:
"I came here because of the man who was killed in Donetsk. He was the man who turned those rich ones we have now into billionaires. And this man died because he has been working for 40 years for them. And they have come and stolen everything and as a result, the man was simply trampled on."
The former Soviet republic is trying to cut spending in order to regain access to a 15 billion U.S. dollar IMF package.
The austerity measures - which could include moves to cut health benefits and reduce pensions - face strong opposition.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CHERNOBYL VETERAN TAMARA KOROBKO, SAYING:
"When our motherland was in danger, they needed us. But now the motherland has wiped its feet on us, and nobody needs us anymore."
The rally is the latest in a string of protests by veterans in Kiev and other cities, many of which have led to clashes with police.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.