March for dialogue and in support of ex-defence minister Fedorov underway in Kyiv – photos
Protesters are marching through Kyiv calling for Mykhailo Fedorov's reinstatement as defence minister and for the authorities to engage in dialogue with the public.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
Details: Hundreds of participants gathered near the Arch of Freedom of the Ukrainian People.
People are holding placards reading "Dialogue with the people", "Fedorov to the Defence Ministry", "Fedorov = Defence Minister", "Thanks for Drapatyi, but we haven't finished yet", "Has Vova [Zelenskyy] left the chat?", "The president is sabotaging victory", and so on.
The march is set to end at Ivan Franko Square.
Ukrainian veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi, one of the initiators of the protests, said in a speech during the march that the aim of the protest is to remind the authorities of the need for dialogue with the public and remind President Zelenskyy of his responsibility for government appointments.
Koziatynskyi read out a petition which he urged the protesters to support. The petition calls for reforms in the defence sector, dialogue between the authorities and the public, and the continuation of the reforms launched by the Defence Ministry under Fedorov.
Koziatynskyi also criticised the appointment of Rustem Umierov to head the Foreign Intelligence Service despite his lack of relevant experience, and of Vitalii Kim as minister of veterans' affairs despite having no experience in veterans' policy. He also stressed that Ukraine still has no appointed defence minister or foreign minister.
Later, the petition was handed over to a representative of the President's Office.
Background: On Friday 14 August, another protest took place in Franko Square near the President's Office. The demonstrators were demanding dialogue, a clear government action plan and a vision for reforms, protesting against corruption in the defence sector, and expressing their support for former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.