The participants of the meeting carry the flag of Ukraine

Participants of the opposition on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence, in Kiev, on Wednesday, August 24, 2011. Some five thousand people took part in an opposition meeting near the monument to Taras Shevchenko. Following the start of the opposition meeting court officers made an announcement that the District Administrative Court of Kiev prohibited a walking procession of participants through the city centre. Despite the warning, some protesters attempted to make way down Vladimirskaya Street to Khreshchatik. The illegal actions led to clashes with law enforcement units. The protesters were blocked by detachments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. The violations of the court order have been recorded to be later addressed by the Prosecutor-General's Office of Ukraine. Photo by Andrey Skakodub / UNIAN