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| Violent dispersal of sit-in on Independence Square (Image: AP) |
Peaceful sit-in of the supporters of European integration on Kyiv’s
iconic Independence Square was violently dispersed by special units of riot police
in early hours of Saturday, 30 November.
After Cabinet of Ministers’ statement regarding suspending of processes
of preparation to the signing of the Association Agreement with EU and the
failure of Vilnius Summit, where the Agreement wasn’t signed, tens of thousands
of people remain in the squares and main streets of Ukrainian capital and other
cities as well. Peaceful demonstrations calling for the European path and
implementing of European values in the country have turned into the rallies
calling for changing the power of the state if Victor Yanukovich will not make
everything possible to sign the Agreement.
Despite the recent statements of Interior Ministry of Ukraine that the
peaceful rallies will not be dispersed unless the demonstrators do not violate
the law, riot police and security forces have attacked demonstrators gathering
on Independence Square.
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| Riot police dispersing the sit-ins in Kyiv (Image: AP) |
The attack occurred at 4 a.m. when nearly 3 thousand of riot police have
attacked the sit-in consisted of nearly 300 demonstrators spending the night in
the Square, mostly students. There was reportedly no warning and no
announcement made by the riot police for the demonstrators, the lines of
soldiers just moved towards the protesters, violently beating them with the
sticks and firing tear gas. Protesters didn’t respond to the violence and have
called on the policemen to stop their attack, but these calls haven’t been
heard. Riot police was beating everybody regardless of age, sex and any other
features.
The sit-in was dispersed during several minutes. According to the
eyewitnesses security forces have been beating all the people even those fallen
to the ground. Numerous protesters managing to escape the site of violence have
been arrested and dragged into the police cars and buses and brought in the unknown
direction. Policemen have been even following the people escaping Independence
Square, what is fixated by the cameras installed on the buildings of the
central streets of Kyiv. The square was cleared and sealed off by the security
forces. All the entrances to the square are currently either blocked or
strongly controlled by the police.
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| One of the injured protesters (Image: Українська Правда) |
Unprecedented level of violence and hatred during the dispersal of the
sit-in was shock to Ukrainians and to the international community as well. USA
and EU officials have made the statements regarding the situation and strongly
condemning the violent dispersal and using of the power scenario against the
peaceful demonstrators. There were also statements that the relations with
current Ukrainian authorities will be revised and the personal sanctions could
be imposed against Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich and Cabinet of Ministers
members.
According to the eyewitnesses and victims of the dispersal the soldiers
attacking the protesters weren’t from Kyiv. This information was confirmed,
Kyiv Independence Square was cleared with the help of the special military
units of internal armed forces deployed from Eastern Ukraine and Crimea.
Ukrainian Ministry of Interior shares currently conflicting statements
as official spokesperson on Ministry of Interior refused to answer who gave an
order to disperse the sit-in. Other representatives of Ukrainian internal
forces declared the Square was cleared as the protesters have violated the laws
and committed unlawful acts. In addition to that the official statement of Ministry
of Interior says protesters have been attacking police forces throwing stones
and fires in them.
Several videos of the ciolent dispersal of pro-European sit-in in Kyiv (videos: Mustafa Nayem, 5 Chanel):
There were reports that Lviv riot police has also received an order to
disperse the sit-in in the city, but Lviv riot police and security forces have
officially refused to obey these orders and stated they are planning to change
in the civil clothes and join the protesters. Kyiv units of riot police are
reportedly sent to Lviv, but the city administration along with the activists
of the Lviv Euromaidan declared mobilization in the region with the squares
being patrolled and all the roads leading to the city being blocked. All the
cars and buses entering Lviv are reportedly being checked.
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| Independence Square after dispersal of the sit-in (Image: AP) |
Ukrainian oppositional leaders have strongly condemned the order to
violently disperse the sit-ins and called for the people of Ukraine to gather
on Sunday, 1 December, for the People Council in order to discuss the situation
and to work out the plan of the further actions. Meanwhile tens of thousands of
people have already gathered on Kyiv’s Mykhaylivska Square, in front of the
historical Mykhaylivsky Cathedral, where the protesters pursued by riot police
have been hiding during the night.
People gathered on Mykhaylivsky Square are demanding resignation of
Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich and of his government as well accusing
them in the state’s treason and using violence and power against their own
people. The activists and oppositional leaders are calling for the national
strike and civil disobedience in order to express the will and position of
Ukrainian people and to fight for the changing of the power in Ukraine.
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| Thousands of people have gathered on Mykhaylivska Square in Kyiv (Image: Українська Правда) |
Meanwhile oppositional leaders have stated they are planning to put the
issue of Cabinet of Ministers resignation on the agenda of the Parliament on
Monday. In addition to that the draft law about impeachment of Victor
Yanukovich is already submitted to the Parliament as well. There is a
constitutional way to impeach the President who committed national treason and
lost his legitimacy.
Violence during the dispersal of the sit-in was condemned by numerous
political figures and leaders including the representatives of pro-Yanukovich
Party of Regions as well. Some parliamentarians have also left the Party of
Regions and their positions. There were even the statements about the necessity
of declaring of the state of emergency in the country and setting the new
presidential elections.
Several ambassadors of European countries including Poland, Finland, Netherlands,
Lithuania and others have visited demonstrators on the Mylhaylivska Square and
supported them. Several European countries have also called their ambassadors
in Ukraine for the consultations and explaining the situation.
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| Massive protests in Kyiv now (Liga Net) |
Meanwhile numbers of the protesters on Mykhaylivska Square are rapidly
increasing. The rallies in support of European integration have turned into
anti-government Revolution demanding the fall of the regime of Victor
Yanukovich. The people are ready to remain in the squares and make the steps in
order to change the system in the country and to achieve the new goals of the
new Ukrainian Revolution.
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| Huge protests in Kyiv (Image: TSN) |
The situation in the country remains tense with the massive rallies
spreading all over the country and demanding Yanukovich and his ministers to
step down or to face impeachment procedures.
Terrible violence and attacks during the
dispersal of the peaceful sit-in happened on 30 November 2013 was the
unprecedented thing, which never ever happened in the history of Ukrainian independence.
This attack and using of the power scenario against the citizens is the last
drop and ends the legitimacy of regime of Victor Yanukovich and his government
and turns it into criminal oppressive regime.
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