Euromaidan's First Anniversary: Ukraine Celebrates Dignity and Liberty Day
Ukraine celebrates Dignity and Liberty day on Friday, Nov. 21. Representatives of Samooborona (self defense) of Maidan will march, and people's viche (gathering) will be held.
Censor.NET reports citing Liga.
Celebrations to commemorate Maidan events, which started a year ago this day and led to resignation of pro-Russian authorities, will start at 9 a.m. with candle lighting and putting flowers on Instytutska street, where most people were killed in February. All day long, until midnight, a photo gallery of Maidan and ATO heroes, as well as exhibition of the National Guard of Ukraine will operate on Maidan.
In Ukrainskyi Dim, other activities will be held by activists, starting from 11 a.m.
It is to be recalled that on Nov. 21, 2013, after then-Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov announced halt in ratification of EU-Ukraine association agreement, activists gathered on the Kyiv's main square, Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) and demanded to sign the agreement. Despite Kyiv's city authorities decision, a tent town was organized.
On Nov. 30, special detachments of Interior Ministry dispersed the demonstrators using force. On Dec. 1, tens of thousands people gathered on Maidan and disabled the governmental blocks. A week later, the Lenin's monument on Bessarabska square was overturned.
On Jan. 19, new wave of clashes between the people and the police started. On Nov. 22, three demonstrators were killed, according to official data: Armenian Serhii Nihoian and Belarusian Mykhail Zhyznievskyi were shot dead on Hrushevskoho street in downtown Kyiv. Yurii Verbytsky from Lviv was found dead in a forest near Kyiv after being kidnapped.
On Feb. 18, more clashes between the Euromaidan supporters and the police force happened in Kyiv's downtown. On Feb. 19, Security Service of Ukraine announced counter-terrorist operation and started shooting peaceful protesters on the streets. From Feb. 18 to 20, 75 people were killed.
On Feb. 21, an agreement on Regulation of political crisis in Ukraine was signed by then-President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders Vitalii Klitschko, Arsenii Yatseniuk, and Oleh Tiahnybok.
In the night of Feb. 22, Euromaidan activists seized the governmental block, abandoned by the police, and demanded immediate resign of then-President Yanukovych.
On Feb. 23, Viktor Yanukovych fled the country and ended up in Russia.
