New cafe on Kyiv’s Maidan sparks controversy
Café set to open in Trade Union Building where dozens died in fire during 2014 Euromaidan revolution
A new café set to open on Kyiv’s main street is causing a stir – the location is the trade union building.
On the night of February 18th it was here that huge blaze broke out during Ukraine pro-EU Maidan protests.
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The café unexpectedly closed once information spread on social media that it was to open in the trade union building.
Ukrainian MPs place leaflets reading ‘You betrayed us’ with the picture of Ukrainian activists who died during the Euromaidan revolution dubbed Heavenly Hundred on the window of the café, November 12, 2015. (UNIAN Photo)
Andriy is a doctor – he worked on the Maidan during the fire, saving people and treating the injured. He remembers how the authorities promised to put museum in the trade union building.
He says, “They were supposed to put a museum on the ground floor and the trade unions would be in the rest – but definitely not a karaoke bar.”
Read also Street art commemorating first Euromaidan victim revealed in Kyiv
For some visitors to the café – which is part of a Russian chain – the closure was inconvenient, causing them to change plans.
For others passing by the café was a source of offense.
Kyiv resident: “This is a disgrace. It makes a mockery of what happened here. When they smoke in the café the smoke will remind them of the fire that was here during Maidan.”
Meanwhile, a courier arrives with fliers announcing the grand opening of the café – but amid the scandal – its seems the doors may remain closed for some time.