Potentially Violent Rally in Downtown Kyiv - US Embassy Kyiv Warden Message - February 26, 2008

The Ukrainian National-Labor Party will be conducting a demonstration on Saturday, March 1, 2008, starting at 1300 at the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry in downtown Kyiv. The demonstration will be held to protest Kovoso independence. The Ukrainian National-Labor Party is alleged to have ties to Ukrainian extremist and ultra-nationalist groups. Such groups are often associated with skinhead groups and/or individuals involved in hate crimes against ethnic and religious minorities and have been associated with violent assaults in Kyiv in the past.

We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. American citizens are strongly urged to avoid areas in and around the rally area and to exercise an increased level of security awareness.

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Cautions, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2328. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

In the event further information is obtained regarding this or any other security or safety situation in Ukraine, the Embassy will provide updates via this same channel and on the Embassy’s web page: http://kyiv.usembassy.gov. American citizens who need to contact the Embassy may do so during working hours by calling American Citizens Services unit at (38-044) 490-4445 or the main Embassy telephone number at (38-044) 490-4000. The Embassy’s duty officer may be reached after hours via this same number, or by contacting (38-050) 311-1796.