Kiev Ukraine News Blog

By Aussiegirl

There's a wonderful blog called Kiev Ukraine News Blog that you really should visit. It's published by Nicholas, who describes himself as an American expat living in Kiev for the last 15 years, which he describes as one of the most beautiful and charming cities in Europe. There's a bit of everything -- sports, popular music, politics, religion and any topic touching on the Ukrainian scene, including this tidbit about Kiev's maverick new mayor who recently held an open house to hear complaints from residents. Not surprisingly, he received an earful.

Kiev Ukraine News Blog

The Ukrainian capital's new mayor was taken aback when an estimated 2,000 people turned up at his office Saturday after he announced that he would be available to personally hear complaints.

Standing amid the pressing crowd at the building's front entrance, Leonid Chernovetsky promised he would make this a weekly event but expressed hope that in coming weeks, it would be more orderly. The start of the event was delayed due to the huge and demanding crowds.

"I now fully understand that you want to live in a democracy,'' Chernovetsky said, according to Ukraine's Unian news agency.

Tables were set up to help residents put their complaints in writing, and Chernovetsky's staff said some 3,000 petitions had been submitted. Residents took turns at a microphone to publicly address the mayor.