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Opposition in Kiev votes against Customs Union plans

Protesters emphasized Ukraine’s European choice

© EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICH

KIEV, December 15, 17:16 /ITAR-TASS/. At a ‘popular assembly’ on Kiev’s Independence Square, protesters have passed a resolution ‘on inadmissibility of Ukraine’s entry into the Customs Union’ of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The resolution ”bans President Viktor Yanukovich from signing any agreements” on behalf of the Ukrainian people at a session of the Russian-Ukrainian interstate commission on December 17. Besides, protesters emphasized Ukraine’s European choice and “a moratorium on integration into the Customs Union”.

The Batkivshchina opposition party was among the organizers of the ‘popular assembly’. The head of its parliamentary faction, Arseny Yetsenyuk, said earlier that the rally had been aimed to express protest against a possible signing by President Viktor Yanukovich of an agreement on Ukraine’s joining the Russian-led Customs Union.

The rally also voted in favor of the release of all political inmates, first of all former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko as well as other brothers-in-arms held in custody. The rally is estimated at about 20,000 by police. American senators Chris Murphy of Connecticut and John McCane of Arizona arrived in Independence Square to cheer up the protesters.

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