page_title: Anti-Maidan
section_title: December 2013 rallies in Mariinsky park
hierarchical_section_title: Anti-Maidan / Protests of Anti-Maidan by date / December 2013 rallies in Mariinsky park
caption_attribution_description: Українська: Учасники так званого «хресного ходу» проти європейської інтеграції України («євросодомії») влаштованого Братством Олександра Невського, «Православним вибором» і «Народним Собором». Маріїнський парк, Київ.
context_page_description: The anti-Maidan refers to a number of demonstrations in Ukraine first directed against the Euromaidan and later the new Ukrainian government. The initial participants were in favor of supporting the cabinet of the second Azarov government, President Viktor Yanukovych, and closer ties with Russia. After the overthrow of Yanukovych, anti-Maidan became divided into various other groups, which partially overlapped. These ranged from people protesting against social ills, to supporters of a federalization of Ukraine, to pro-Russian separatists and nationalists.
context_section_description: A rally and tent camp action in support of President Viktor Yanukovych and at initiative of the Party of Regions began on 3 December in Mariinsky park located close by the Verkhovna Rada building (the parliament). The Party of Regions's press service reported on Sunday 6 December that over 15,000 people were taking part in a pro-government rally there. According to city police, there were some 3,000 people in the park the day before., and the press estimated them at 2,000. Police heavily guarded this event from not only anti-government protesters, but also from any journalists and on-lookers.
  According to Segodnya, people attending the pro-government Marinsky Park event were hired or obliged to attend, and forced to stay for a pre-determined time. In one incident on 8 December, protesters were held at the rally against their will by armed security.
  Speaking on condition of anonymity to the Kyiv Post, one demonstrator said that participants of the rally are paid UAH₴300 or more in order to earn money without going to work. She also recalled cases when they were not let outside the rally for the whole day, while inside the camp there was a build up of garbage and dirty toilets on the grounds. Mark MacKinnon, senior international correspondent for The Globe and Mail, attempted to interview a demonstrator at the ongoing Anti-Maidan, but although was refused the demonstrator indicated to him that she actually supported the Euromaidan protests.
  In parliament on 13 December Svoboda leader Oleh Tyahnybok said people on the government payroll in medical, education and other sectors (the so-called "byudzhetnye" sectors) were being bullied into coming to a planned pro-government rally that weekend; Speaker of parliament and Party of Regions member Volodymyr Rybak responded, saying that it is wrong to pressure people and it has to stop.
  On 23 December, the pro-government rally ended.
caption: Russian Orthodox Anti-Maidan protesters waving Imperial Russian flags and orthodox banners
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