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16 November 2024

Ukraine feminists 'urinate' on all male cabinet

Activists of the Ukrainian women's movement FEMEN activist hold placards, reading: "Azarov is a liar, " in reference to Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, " To urinate standing is not privilege," "Women at the Cabinet of Ministers," in front of the Cabinet Ministers building in Kiev during an action, called "The Cabinet is a men's room". The activists protested against the absence of women ministers in the newly reorganized government of Azarov. (AFP)

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By AFP

Dozens of Ukrainian feminists on Monday staged an unusual protest against the country's all-male cabinet, pretending to urinate to show the government had turned into nothing more than a men's room.

The members of the Femen group -- known for its brazen feminist stunts -- squirted bottles of water and yellow liquid from their groins outside the government headquarters as a bemused line of police looked on.

"To urinate standing is not a privilege," said a banner held by one of the estimated 30 protesters. The police did not prevent the protest but also did not allow the women any further towards the government.

The police, wrapped up against the winter cold, tried to repress their smiles as the scantily clad women squirted the liquid all over the pavement.

The demonstrators were protesting after a cabinet reshuffle last week again left the government of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and President Viktor Yanukovych without a single female cabinet minister.

"We think that the prime minister has mixed the cabinet of ministers up with a male lavatory and thus has forbidden entry to members of the 'weaker' sex," Femen said in a statement.

The lack of women in the cabinet is a contrast to the previous government that was ousted earlier this year and was led by charismatic former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.