Scuffles between police and protesters on Independence Square

Demonstrators, protesting against the Tax Code, blocked traffic along the main street in Kyiv,  Khreshchatyk. Police tried in vain to stop them, and there were some scuffles.  One of the activists called out from the stage that the police were beating demonstrators.  The crowd began chanting “The police are with the people” and “Mohylyov must go” (about the Minister of Internal Affairs). The demonstrators standing on the edge were asked to link arms to prevent provocation.

They also asked people to return to Bankova St (where the President’s Administration is located) since there were very few people there. “We have a request. Each region (oblast) will go to Bankova St  for an hour, then return. There are National Deputies there, but they will only help. This should be strike members, so that the police understand that we are controlling Bankova St and plan to return at 18.00.

 The Volyn region demonstrators set off first.

The organizers stated from the stage during the afternoon that the police had been instructed to initiate criminal investigations, however the police denied this, saying that all they could do at this stage was draw up protocols on administrative charges 

The demonstrators also called on the business people demonstrating to free up one entrance to Khreshchatyk to allow a police file to pass.   They warned the demonstrators that they would regard anybody tried to prevent the police from passing as deliberately provoking conflict.