Michael Mainville
AFP
March 9, 2014
Russian flags flooded Lenin Square in the centre of Crimea’s capital Simferopol Sunday as thousands rallied in support of Moscow’s takeover of the peninsula — vastly overwhelming a smaller pro-Ukraine demonstration nearby.
The rival rallies in Simferopol were peaceful, in contrast to the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, where about 100 pro-Russians with clubs and whips attacked some 20 people who were guarding a pro-Ukraine rally.
Some 10,000 people joined the pro-Russia rally in Simferopol, chanting “Russia! Russia!” as a navy band played patriotic Russian songs and dancers twirled on stage.