A rally and tent camp action in support of President Viktor Yanukovych and at initiative of the Party of Regions began on 3 December in Mariinsky park located close by the Verkhovna Rada building (the parliament).[18][19] The Party of Regions's press service reported on Sunday 6 December that over 15,000 people were taking part in a pro-government rally there.[19] According to city police, there were some 3,000 people in the park the day before.,[19] and the press estimated them at 2,000.[3] Police heavily guarded this event from not only anti-government protesters,[21] but also from any journalists and on-lookers.