Several hundred businessmen, called for an easing of Ukraine’s coronavirus lockdown in a protest near the government building on Wednesday (29 April).
The protesters, most of whom kept a safe distance from each other as police and the National Guard looked on, demanded more government support for small businesses and equal working conditions for all companies.
Ukraine has closed cafes, restaurants, markets, hairdressers, gyms and entertainment centres during the lockdown imposed last month, forcing many companies to shut their doors and leaving many people without work.
“While we are not working, we have run out of money, we already have nothing to eat,” said restaurateur Andriy Bondarenko at the protest in the capital, Kyiv. “They (the government) have no action plan or understanding of the processes.”
The government, which has reported nearly 10,000 coronavirus cases including 250 deaths, did not respond directly to the protesters. But Prime Minister Denys Shmygal told a televised government meeting that the lockdown would be lifted gradually when the time was right.
Ukraine has closed cafes, restaurants, markets, hairdressers, gyms and entertainment centres during the lockdown imposed last month, forcing many companies to shut their doors and leaving many people without work.
“While we are not working, we have run out of money, we already have nothing to eat,” said restaurateur Andriy Bondarenko at the protest in the capital, Kyiv. “They (the government) have no action plan or understanding of the processes.”
The government, which has reported nearly 10,000 coronavirus cases including 250 deaths, did not respond directly to the protesters. But Prime Minister Denys Shmygal told a televised government meeting that the lockdown would be lifted gradually when the time was right.
