At least 1,000 protesters have gathered in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, the industrial capital of the region, demanding that authorities respect their right for self-determination by allowing them to stage a Crimea-style referendum.
The rally was held in the city's central Lenin Square.
Demonstrators held Russian flags and signs which read, “The
Republic of Donetsk.”
The protesters called for a general all-Ukrainian strike and
distributed leaflets declaring April 18 a referendum day.
"Today a referendum remains a sharp political and social
issue in Donbass region. People do not leave squares and require
to hold [a referendum]. The fight for a referendum is accompanied
by protests against rising prices for gas, electricity and food.
The socio-patriotic movement 'Eastern Front' offers trade unions
to hold a general strike on April 18. The goal of the strike is
to require that the authorities hold a referendum and introduce a
moratorium on the increase of tariffs and utilities," said
the leaflet, according to local media reports.
Residents then marched from the square to the city council
building. Law enforcement officers in riot gear gathered near the
building.
The protesters demanded that local authorities meet them at the
location. According to reports, a group of city council deputies
came out of the building.
Demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Referendum” and
"Berkut,” as well as "Russia" and “Taruta
(the new Donbass governor recently appointed by the Kiev
government) needs to go!”
Earlier, the press service of the city council reported that
authorities had not received any requests or notifications from
social organizations or political parties about the Saturday
rally.
Deputies of the city council, Igor Ponomarenko and Igor Sviridov,
promised to meet residents at Lenin Square on Sunday, according
to local media.
On March 1, Donetsk City Council made a decision to support the
residents in their calls for a referendum. The deputies of the
city council said that the decision on whether to hold a
referendum is currently being considered by the court prosecutor,
and the next hearing will take place on April 22.
On Friday, a group of people gathered at the German consulate in
Donetsk to protest against what they say is German interference
in Ukraine’s domestic affairs. They have signed a petition asking
Berlin to stop meddling.
“We ask you to convey to the leadership of your country our
request of non-interference in Ukrainian internal affairs by
Germany,” the petition reads.
“We ask you, based on Germany’s international authority, to
warn other countries from this, not to enkindle war and not to
support fascism in Ukraine,” said the people’s statement, as
quoted by local media.
After President Viktor Yanukovich was ousted by an armed coup in
February, the Donbass region has been gripped by protests against
Kiev’s coup-imposed government. Thousands of demonstrators have
been demanding to hold a referendum to decide on the future of
the region – just like in Crimea, which refused to recognize the
country's new authorities.
The Republic of Crimea declared its independence from Ukraine
following the March 16 referendum, in which 96.77 percent of the
voters chose to rejoin Russia. Despite calls to boycott the vote
and provocation attempts, 83.1 percent of Crimeans took part in
the poll.