Ukraine: Small business owners to rally in Kyiv, Lviv May 14

Event

Kiosk owners and other small businesses entrepreneurs are planning to hold separate demonstrations in Kyiv and Lviv on Tuesday, May 14, to protest recent government regulations. In Kyiv, demonstrators are expected to gather near the Presidential Administration building at 09:00 (local time) before marching to the Kyiv City Council building at 10:00. Around 1500 people are expected to participate in the march. The rally in Lviv will begin at 20:30 at the Liviv Regional Administrative Court on Cholovsky Street. Heightened security measures and localized traffic disruptions are anticipated around all demonstrations.

Context

Small business owners in Kyiv have held three other demonstrations in March and April to protest new regulations that would introduce auctions to reserve space for temporary stores, among other rules. The protesters claim that the regulations are an attempt to force out small and medium businesses from being able to rent kiosks in the city.

Advice

Individuals in Kyiv and Lviv are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all public demonstrations as a precaution, and anticipate a heightened security presence and localized business and transportation disruptions near any demonstrations.