Ukraine: Nationalists to protest on Hospitalna Street in Kyiv March 9

Event

Nationalist activists are planning to protest in central Kyiv on March 9 to denounce the imprisonment of Serhiy Sternenko, the former leader of the Odesa cell of the Right Sector movement. Participants will gather outside the President Hotel on Hospitalna Street, which will be hosting the annual Congress of Judges.

Hundreds of people could attend the demonstration. Police will deploy in large numbers and related security measures will likely cause disruptions. Clashes and other security disturbances are highly likely at nationalist protests, and police will likely respond forcefully to any disorder, including with batons, water cannon, and tear gas. While bystanders are unlikely to be targeted in any violence, they would face a significant indirect threat in the vicinity.

Context

The Primorsky Court of Odesa sentenced Sternenko to seven years' imprisonment Feb. 23 on kidnapping charges. Related protests were reported in Kyiv, Chernivtsi, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Lviv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, and Zhytomyr, with some demonstrations in Kyiv and Zhytomyr being marred by violence. Further protests are likely in the short term.

Advice

Avoid any protests as a routine security precaution and to mitigate any associated disruptions. Anticipate security-related movement restrictions in the vicinity of Hospitalna Street March 9. Leave the area immediately at the first sign of a confrontation.