09:44 30.09.2014

Football fans disperse rally in favor of restoring toppled Lenin statue in Kharkiv

1 min read
Football fans disperse rally in favor of restoring toppled Lenin statue in Kharkiv

Ukrainian football fans dispersed a rally being held by people who support the restoration of a Lenin monument that was torn down on Freedom Square in the center of Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, on Monday.

According to an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, the fans, chanting slogans in favor of Ukraine's unity and denouncing "Novorossiya," moved towards the statue from the opposite side of the square and stopped 200 meters from the monument in order to sing the national anthem. Meanwhile, most demonstrators retreated towards the Shevchenko city garden, located nearby.

The fans then started to set off firecrackers and smoke grenades. Some of them climbed onto the monument's pedestal and threw away the flowers lying there.

There were also several skirmishes with people who tried to stop the football fans. One of the demonstrators suffered a head injury and was treated by Red Cross volunteers. Medical aid was also provided to another person, who was attacked by several fans.

No police officers were present on the square at the time of the incident.

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