Bill

Khrashatuk is the main boulevard in downtown Kyiv. It is a wide, tree lined, pedestrian friendly street and one of my favorite streets in the world. On weekends it is closed to traffic and becomes a pedestrian “happening place”. Vendors set up in the street and people walk from one end to the other, both on the street and on the pedestrian walkways. Frequently, there are festivals and music provided day and night. It always seems festive!

One evening while strolling along Khrashatuk, I noticed a young women being harassed by a man. I watched for a bit as I walked along the street, and noticed no one paid any attention. The woman obviously did not want this guy man handling her. It looked to me that he was trying to coerce her into something she did not want to do or go. I decided to intervene, and walked towards the couple. The guy (probably in his mid 20’s?) saw me approaching, and let go of the woman. She headed towards a couple and a single woman and seemed relieved to be away from the guy. Ann and Igor later advised I should have stayed out of it as there may have been others with the guy who may have intervened on his part and at my expense. No one did, and I am none the worse for wear, and the woman was released from an uncomfortable situation, at least for the moment. I do not know what happened afterwards. Perhaps the situation repeated itself elsewhere. Don’t know, but I did what I thought was right at the time.