The ceremony was attended by Mr. Mykola TOCHYTSKYI, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, Ms Gabriella BATTAINI-DRAGONI, Deputy Secretary of the Council of Europe, diplomats of the Permanent Representations of the member-states to the Council of Europe and representatives of the Ukrainian community in Strasbourg.

Participants laid flowers near the Ukrainian flag at the forecourt of the Council of Europe, lit candles and observed a moment of silence in memory of murdered Heroes.

On 21 November 2013 following the refusal of the former Ukrainian government to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union hundreds of thousands of people poured into the streets in Ukrainian cities, in particular in Kyiv, to protest against the regime that attempted to deprive them of a European future.

On 20 February the special police started shooting at peaceful protesters and killed around a hundred Ukrainian patriots. These heroes are now called the “Heavenly Hundred”.

Every year, on 20 February Ukraine marks the Day of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes in memory of courage and firmness of those who lost their lives during the Revolution of Dignity.