Tens of thousands of supporters of presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko filled Kiev's main square Saturday
Published:
7 November 2004 y., Sunday
Tens of thousands of supporters of presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko filled Kiev's main square Saturday, joining planned nationwide protests over alleged election fraud.
Vote results from Ukraine's Central Election Commission showed Mr. Yushchenko trailing Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych in last Sunday's race, but final results have not been announced and Mr. Yushchenko's supporters want a re-count.
Mr. Yushchenko backers claim he won 300,000 more votes than Mr. Yanukovych. Some exit polls also put Mr. Yushchenko in the lead.
The election was seen as pivotal for the democratic future of Ukraine, over which Russia still wields great influence in economic, political and military affairs.
More than 30,000 people waving orange flags — Mr. Yushchenko's campaign color — filled Kiev's central Independence Square to hear popular rock bands and await speeches from Mr. Yushchenko, Socialist Party leader Oleksandr Moroz and other politicians.
Organizers claimed more than 100,000 people had gathered; police put the number at 10,000. Other protests were planned in cities throughout this nation of 48 million.
Mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko had threatened to ban the pro-Yushchenko protest, but a local court gave demonstrators its approval. No major police presence was visible.
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