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	UKRAINE: MAY 1 POLITICAL RALLIES IN KYIV Despite Court Ruling Limiting Political Rallies in Kyiv During May Holidays, Communists and Socialists Hold Large Rally in European Square
	By Vlad Lavrov, Correspondent The Action Ukraine Report Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, May 1, 2004 KYIV - The Communists and Socialist Parties of Ukraine held a mass meeting in Kyiv on May Day. There were around 15-20 thousand people at the event. The rally was held despite an April 30 ruling by the Shevchenkivsky District Court in Kyiv limiting the rights of citizens' to hold peaceful gatherings and marches on May 1 in Kyiv. Because of the District Court Ruling the Viktor Yushchenko 'Our Ukraine' bloc changed its plans to hold a 100 thousand person meeting "Yes - to Prosperity! No - to Dictatorship!" and instead organized a non-political karaoke competition held in Independence square where all those wishing to take part could sing Ukrainian songs. "Join the Communist party of Ukraine, Save Your Family and Ukraine!" (Portraits of Lenin and Symonenko, Leader of the Party ArtUkraine.com photo (Click on images to enlarge them) On the European square where the leftist political parties had a far larger crowd, there were people representing all age groups, but with the elderly being in the majority. The people who came from all over Ukraine were entertained with a variety of Soviet propaganda and revolutionary songs glorifying Lenin, the Communist Party, the Komsomol (the branch of the Communists Party for Younger people) and life in the Soviet Union. The officials at the meeting included the leaders of the Communist Party of Ukraine, Petro Symonenko and Adam Martyniuk, members of the Communist Party faction in the Parliament Oleksandr Tkachenko, Yuriy Solomatin, as well as, representatives of the Party from the regions. The Socialists were represented by Josyp Vinsky, the deputy of Oleksandr Moroz. The prevalent rhetoric of all the speakers included accusations about the Kuchma and Yanukovych regime and their inhuman politics towards people of Ukraine. The speakers also said that Yushchenko's politics would be exactly the same. The only hope for a better life, therefore, would be if Petro Symonenko was elected president of Ukraine on October 31. Another major theme at the meeting was the demand that Ukrainian troops be withdrawn from Iraq immediately. The speakers said this needed to be done especially after April 28 when two Ukrainian soldiers Kostyantyn Mykhaliov and Yaroslav Zlochevsky were killed during an attack of the Iraqi rebels on the Ukrainian patrol. A resolution demanding that President Kuchma withdraw the Ukrainian troops immediately from Iraq was passed at the end of the meeting.   Young Pioneer and War Veteran During the Rally ArtUkraine.com photo An Elderly Protester Holding Portraits of Symonenko and Lenin ArtUkraine.com photo   Young Pioneers Saluting to the Soviet Anthem ArtUkraine.com photo Leaders of the Communist Party of Ukraine Holding Carnations, L-R Oleksandr Tkachenko, Adam Martyniuk and Petro Symonenko ArtUkraine.com photo FOR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC USE ONLY

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