Ukrainian nationalist activists set up tents on Maidan

KIEV (AP):

About 100 nationalist activists set up tents in central Kiev yesterday to press their calls for ousting the Ukrainian government, brought to power two years ago following months of protests.

They were joined by around 200 others in an anti-government protest yesterday on Independence Square, known as Maidan.

Some lit fires in trash bins to symbolise the fires that were kept burning in barrels to warm the protesters in the winter of 2014, and minor clashes broke out when police stopped a truck to prevent the protesters from delivering a stage to Maidan. About 100 protesters tried to attack the police, but no one was hurt.

protests

Others came to Maidan to place flowers and light candles in memory of those who died during the protests that culminated with the Russia-friendly president fleeing on February 21, 2014. The day before, more than 50 people had died from sniper fire.

Although many Kiev residents are disappointed with the current government, few support the calls for another revolution.

"The country needs reforms and a better standard of living, but not new revolutions. We're tired of them," said 46-year-old businessman Andrei Pogonyailo.

After the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych, Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine and Russian-speaking separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions launched protests that escalated into a war that has killed more than 9,000 people.