On the evening of February 23, mass protests were held in support of the Odesa activist, former leader of the Right Sector (Pravyi Sektor) Serhii Sternenko, who had been sentenced to 7 years and 3 months in prison the day before. According to the police, about 2000 people gathered at the Office of the President, as was reported by BBC Ukraine.
The protesters demanded to release Sternenko, shouted slogans: "Shame", "Avakov is a devil", " Free Sternenko", and others.
The tear gas was used against the crowd as well as gas canisters and flares, which protesters threw at the police. As a result, several law enforcement officers suffered from eye burns.
According to Radio Liberty, protesters clashed with police near the President's Office. Activists tried to enter the building but police blocked the entrance. The security forces tried to push the protesters away but stopped after a counterattack.
One of the protesters threw a flare on the heads of the security forces, and then other fireworks flew. Law enforcement officers began to throw it back into the crowd.
Security forces used tear gas, protesters pushed law enforcement officers a few meters towards the fence of the President's Office.
Around 20 protesters were detained but released soon after the protests.