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.
Šaltinis:
theglobeandmail.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Chechnya's capital Grozny is not quiet. Russia's federal forces may loose control over the city
more »
President Bush signed a $15 billion aid package Saturday for the nation's airline industry
more »
The Estonian Finance Ministry said this week it wouldn't be able to supply the extra 70 million kroons needed to complete the Interior Ministry's new identification card project
more »
President Bush today said $55 million has been donated over the World Wide Web as Internet users pitch in to aid recovery efforts following last week's terrorist attacks.
more »
Searchers found the black box of one hijacked airliner in Pennsylvania and received a signal from the black box of the plane that crashed at the Pentagon, officials said Thursday.
more »
The Tagansky court of Moscow has decided to liquidate the Russian branch of UK's charity organisation - The Salvation Army.
more »
Nazi hunter puts pressure on Estonia
more »
The Rīga Jurisdiction Prosecutor's Office has closed for the second time the criminal case against Kapitāls magazine
more »
Belarus: Opposition Holds Unsanctioned Rally in Minsk
more »
The official opening of the European Cultural Heritage Days will take place in Riga on September 7
more »