ULTRA NATIONALIST AND ANTI-IMMIGRANT DEMONSTRATION, FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2008

April 22, 2008

According to press reports, an anti-immigrant demonstration organized by the local NGO – National Action RID NGO – will be held at 15:00 near the State National Committee on Nationalities and Religions building on Volodymyrska Street, 9, in Kyiv.

This organization appears 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.

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 travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Cautions, Travel Alerts, 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 1-202-501-4444. 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: 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.

U.S. Embassy in Ukraine:
10, Yuriy Kotsyubynsky St.
01901 Kyiv, Ukraine

Consular Section:
6, Mykola Pymonenko St.
01901 Kyiv, Ukraine