All news

About 200 protesters barricade themselves in Michael’s Cathedral in Kiev

Press service of St. Michael’s Monastery told reporters the monks were not against people being in the territory next to the cathedral

KIEV, November 30, (TAR-TASS). About 200 supporters of Ukraine’s European integration, who had been pushed away from the central square, barricaded themselves in the territory of St. Michael’s Cathedral. Nearby are waiting Berkut’s buses and two ambulance vehicles. About ten members of the parliamentary opposition are in a square next to the cathedral.

Press service of St. Michael’s Monastery told reporters the monks were not against people being in the territory next to the cathedral, but they “ask not to organise rallies there.” “We are not closing doors for anyone, but anyway this is a monastery territory. Berkut forces are not in the monastery. Their buses are in Trekhsvyatitelskaya Street /next to the monastery/,” the press service said, adding the monastery’s abbot was not in Kiev at the moment.

The capital city’s police confirmed detention of 30 people, refusing to quote the number of injured during the morning operation in the square against participants in the rally. “We are unable to quote a number, as it varies depending on the number of those addressing for medical assistance,” the police said.

At about 04:00 in the morning on Saturday, several thousand police of the Berkut rapid reaction unit were involved in the dispersal of the rally in support of Ukraine’s European integration in the Independence Square in Kiev. Several video recordings placed on the Internet demonstrate Berkut with batons pushing people from the Independence monument.