Several hundred protesters held a rally called “Burying Small Businesses” on Independence Square
Police officers in Kiev used tear gas during clashes with small business protesters outside the office of the Ukrainian president. The Strana newspaper reported this on Tuesday, publishing a video of the clashes.
Several hundred protesting entrepreneurs, who began a rally called “Burying Small Businesses” on the capital’s Independence Square on Tuesday, approached the president’s office. At the main entrance, police officers demanded that the protesters show their personal belongings, triggering clashes. The police used tear gas. Access to the square in front of the presidential office has now been blocked.
Earlier on Tuesday, protesters tried to march in central Kiev with a coffin and ritual wreaths, which, as the protest organizers explained, symbolize the burial of small businesses. Police officers obstructed them and confiscated props, which also resulted in scuffles. As a result, several protesters were detained. The police action against the protesting businessmen was rather harsh against the background of the fact that the day before the police had not prevented a rally by Ukrainian nationalists near the office of the head of state. The latter demanded that President Vladimir Zelensky be impeached, held posters with threats of imprisonment against the Ukrainian leader and shouted insulting slogans.
The organizers of today’s entrepreneurs’ protest are representatives of the SaveForPeople movement, which the Ukrainian media link to former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Protesters are demanding the passing of bills aimed at protecting the simplified taxation system and reducing taxes.
Protests by entrepreneurs began late last year. Initially, they demanded the lifting of restrictions on business activities imposed due to the quarantine, as well as the passing of bills on a simplified taxation system and the abolition of the compulsory use of cash registers. The rallies have been accompanied by clashes with the police on several occasions.