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Miners’ Kiev protest joined by men in white balaclavas shouting “Down with Junta“

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The center of the city is once again [April 23] rocked by rallies and demonstrations. The miners that promised yesterday to make a perpetual protest picketed again today the Cabinet and Parliament. The demands of the miners have not changed: the payment of salaries and retirement pensions.

“The miners continue to come to the parliament building. The requirements have not changed since yesterday – the resignation of the Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Vladimir Demchishin, and the payment of wages in arrears”, – they stated in the Ukrainian media.

According to Russian media, the miners also require the deputies to enact a moratorium on the closure of the mines, keeping them open, as well as the social protection of miners. […]
whiterBalaclavaA notable feature of the current protests was the accession to the action of unknown young men in white balaclavas.

To the stated requirements of the miners, they added their own: the resignation of Vitali Klitschko from mayor [of Kiev], the reduction in utility tariffs and the raising of the minimum wage.

Near the Verkhovna Rada sports guys in white Balaclavas merged with the miners’ rally and blocked traffic on the street. They chanted “The soldiers will come – and restore order!” and “Klitschko – down!”. In addition, the protesters launched into circulation an unusual slogan for Kiev, “Down with the Junta”. […]

Original source Antifashist.com (in Russian)


Video from today’s protest:

Video from yesterday’s protest:


Meanwhile, in an indication that Kiev is taking the “Miners’ Maidan” seriously, the UNIAN news agency reports:

The Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Vladimir Demchishin interrupted his visit to the US and returned immediately to Kiev in connection with the miners’ strike.

This was reported in his “Twitter” by the Head of European Integration Mykhailo Bno-Airiian. “Due to the miners’ pickets the minister decided to reduce his working visit to the United States by six days. Today, he flew to Kiev”, – he wrote. […]

We emphasize that due to the strike of miners Vladimir Demchishin had to stop participating in the International Conference on Energy CERAWeek-2015 in Houston. As part of this conference the Minister was scheduled to meet with heads of leading energy companies, in particular Statoil, ENI, Chevron, ExxonMobile and Shell.

“Unfortunately a lot of important and useful meetings were canceled,” – wrote Mykhailo Bno-Airiian. […]


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