Maidan protesters rally in Kyiv: They demand a return to the times of Yanukovych
Maidan activists demanded the return of prices and tariffs from the times of Yanukovych during an anti-government rally near the Verkhovna Rada, which took place on Thursday.
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“Satan sits there,” Maidan supporters proclaimed from the stage, pointing towards the parliament building. “They raised tariffs, and the authorities won’t stop there so easily. There are few of us here; we need thousands to stand. Yatsenyuk raised tariffs and lowered our hryvnia. Why do we need a prime minister who brings us to our knees before life? Let him put the hryvnia at 10 hryvnia, as it was, gasoline at 10 and drop everything.”
Among other demands read out on behalf of Maidan activists, there were also demands to return the old prices for public transport, medicine, food, industrial goods, electricity, rent, and utility bills.
For clarity, the protesters set up a “tariff gallows” near the Verkhovna Rada. It symbolized an increase in utility tariffs, unprecedented in all the years of Ukrainian independence.
The demonstrators staged a theatrical performance, the heroes of which were devils and a Ukrainian official who called for a sevenfold increase in tariffs in order to fulfill the IMF’s demands. For this call, the servants of the devil dragged him to hell to cook borscht from the official. However, he managed to avoid punishment, since even the devils were unable to pay for Ukrainian utilities.
“We heard more than once how Arseny Petrovich, while still on the Maidan, stated that we have enough internally produced gas to supply the population,” said the rally participants, speaking from the established stage. “Unfortunately, after becoming prime minister, he forgot his promises. And now he is beginning to shift all the problems associated with Naftogaz onto ordinary Ukrainians.”
Among the attributes of the action, the following stood out: a rabbit placed in a cage with the inscription “Glory to Ukraine”, a “golden radiator”, symbolizing exorbitantly increased tariffs for heat, and a gallows, the noose of which anyone could try on their neck over a mechanical rabbit with the inscription “Tariffs killed me.” "
Those present also noted in their speeches that the Revolution of Dignity, as the events on the Maidan were later called, did not lead to a decent life.
It is noteworthy that the people of Kiev practically did not respond to the call to march to the Rada, which was repeatedly noted by the speakers, inviting residents of the capital to join them. In total, at most 50 people came out to protest against the government's tariff policy.
Maidan protesters rally in Kyiv: They demand a return to the Yanukovych era.