Local Ukranians gather to remember those killed in protests
Posted February 24, 2014 7:03 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – While former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych remains in hiding after being ousted from office, a memorial for those killed in recent protests in that country was held in Vancouver yesterday.
For those in attendance, the violence is more than just distant pictures on TV.
Several dozen people gathered to commemorate the protestors killed in Kyiv and celebrate the demonstrations in spirit.
Irene Nastenko lives in Vancouver now but still has family in Kyiv, and the violence keeps her up at night.
“My husband’s brother, who is pretty young, he was in central square in Ukraine — in Kyiv. One evening, we were looking for him because he wouldn’t reply to his messages and we were a bit scared. But he just went home to sleep, so we were relieved!”
“I know my friends in Edmonton, they also have close family there. They weren’t sleeping for a few nights because you just don’t know what’s happening, especially here, where you don’t see,” she adds.
She adds she feels the support of Canadians and is grateful for the help of the West during this crisis.
