Day of the Street

Despite the court interdiction, the antipresidential forces led people out in Kyiv streets and squares yesterday. According to organizers of the action “Rise up, Ukraine!”, the rally on European Sq. involved 70-100 thousand persons, whereas law enforcement statistics point to some 15,000.

Our Ukraine leader Viktor Yushchenko kept his word and appeared on the square, calling on the like-minded to get united and consolidate their efforts “so as to overcome the regime.” In his own words, the powers that be “understand only one policy waged under the carpet or behind the curtain” and do not seem to consider it necessary to maintain a dialog with the opposition. Yulia Tymoshenko urged those present on European Sq. to head for and picket the presidential administration until Leonid Kuchma tenders his resignation. She stressed that the people (sic) of Ukraine cannot wait another two and a half years for the next presidential elections. Communist leader Petro Symonenko demanded from Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn, also in attendance, that he call a plenary meeting, September 18, and set the date of early presidential elections. His Socialist counterpart Oleksandr Moroz declared that events that day were evidence of cooperation among four political forces: Our Ukraine, SPU, Communist Party, and Tymoshenko bloc.

This cooperation was further attested by a resolution and message signed by the four leaders and supported by the rally. Those present resolved to relieve Leonid Kuchma of his presidency and announce early presidential elections. The message addressed to Kuchma demanded his resignation.

Toward the end of the rally, Tymoshenko bloc’s Oleksandr Turchynov called for putting up tents on European Sq. and keep them occupied till Leonid Kuchma appears before the masses and tenders his resignation.

Viktor Yushchenko proved true to his “consistent” political self, signing two days ago an agreement on the formation of a majority, jointly with four propresidential factions, then singing a message to the president yesterday, demanding his retirement...