02.05.2017, Ukraine.
In Kiev, celebrations of the International Workers’ Day were held, a correspondent of RIA Novosti Ukraine news agency reported on May 1.
A rally on the European Square gathered half a thousand participants. A similar number of police and National Guardsmen were drawn to the site. Another event in Kiev was held at the Friendship of Nations Arch, where a column marched. This event was attended by about a thousand people.
Members of various trade unions from across Ukraine took part in the celebrations. People from the regions of Rovno, Sumy, Zaporozhye, Dnepropetrovsk, etc. took part in demonstrations. Many carried red banners bearing the words “Social Democratic Party”.
At a rally in Kharkov which turned into a march, anti-NATO slogans were demonstrated along with posters calling to “stop the civil war”. Among the demonstrators, there was a girl with a balloon colored in Kharkov People’s Republic colors.
As the column marched, it was joined by provokers chanting “suitcase, train station, Russia!”1. When the marchers laid flowers in front of a monument, the provokers raised Ukrainian banners chanting “hang the communists!” 2
In Odessa, the May Day was not celebrated. Mourning events are going to be held on May 2 at the Trade Union House to honor the memory of those killed in 2014.
In Uzhgorod, the May Day was not celebrated either. Instead, festivals and fairs were held there.
In Dnepropetrovsk, two demonstrations were held under the supervision of mounted police.
In Kherson, the police prevented a clash between left-wing rally participants and veterans of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (Kiev junta’s punitive operation in Donbass ― Editor) who celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first Ukrainian Bogdan Khmelnitsky volunteer regiment.
In Lvov, according to Andrey Galitsky, correspondent of the Voice of the Capital radio station in Lvov, no actions took place. Some celebrations were held before May 1, more will take place on May 5, the City Day.
In Ukraine, amid the wave of de-communization in early 2017, there were discussions over possibly banning May Day. However, the Ukrainian authorities have not gone that far yet.
The 1st of May, the International Workers’ Day, is celebrated in many countries worldwide since 1890. This year, mass May Day marches were held in cities of Russia, Donbass, Latvia, the USA, and many European countries.
1 This slogan literally means that those participated in the May Day demonstration should pack their stuff and leave Ukraine for Russia – Editor.
2 This slogan is a version of another one – “hang the Russians”, which is so popular among the Ukrainian nationalists – Editor.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
