Thousands of pro-Europe demonstrators have been marching through Kiev in a mass protest aimed at President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign an EU trade deal, BBC News reported. The protesters have been demanding new elections and Yanukovych's impeachment. Protesters hope that the government will be more inclusive with the EU but the president does not want to renege on its commitments to Russia.
As police dispersed activists on Saturday, dozens were injured, according to news reports. The BBC reported that at least 31 people were taken into custody.
The protests started more than a week ago after President Yanukovych "suspended preparations for signing an EU association agreement that would have opened borders to goods and set the state for an easing of travel restrictions," according to BBC News.
Jailed opposition leader and ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko urged Ukrainians "not to leave the authorities' actions unanswered," in a message read by her daughter on Saturday.
Tymoshenko, who served as prime minister in 2005, as well as December 2007 to March 2010, was charged in May 2011 for abuse of office concerning natural gas imports with Russia in January 2009. A number of criminal cases were also opened against former officials from her government.
Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in jail, a case that had been criticized by the West as a form of political revenge from her rivals.
"We can and should remove these authorities. We should come out and show that we will not allow them to humiliate us, we will stand up for our rights," former boxer and opposition party leader Vitali Klitschko said, in front of thousands of demonstrators outside Kiev's St Michael's cathedral.
"Organizers are hoping the crowds will exceed last Sunday's demonstration, which witnessed crowds of up to 100,000 people," wrote BBC News' David Stern, reporting on the ground in Kiev.
Ban Ki moon, the UN Secretary-General, said that he "he has been closely following events... [and] appeals to all parties to act with restraint, avoid any further violence and to uphold the democratic principles of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. [He] encourages meaningful dialogue between all concerned in the pursuit of a prosperous future for Ukraine and mutual agreement among Ukrainians on the path forward for the country," as filed in a statement on Monday.
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