 |
| Massive anti-government protests in Kyiv (Image: IPress) |
Ukrainian President Victory Yanukovich is expected to meet three
previous presidents, Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma and Victor Yushchenko. The
meeting is planned to be held on Tuesday, 10 December, and was initiated by
first President of independent Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk.
Leonid Kracvhuk has proposed Victor Yanukovich to hold negotiations with
the previous presidents in order to discuss current situation and deepening
political crisis and to organize also national dialogue attended by the
representatives of government and oppositional forces which is considered being
necessary to resolve the crisis in a peaceful way. Victor Yanukovich has
accepted this invitation.
The meeting of four Ukrainian presidents was expected to be aired online
of one of the state TV channels, but on Tuesday it was announced the recorded
version of the meeting will be shown on the state TV in the evening. The
meeting is being held behind the closed doors, with no journalists and
reporters allowed.
Meanwhile many representatives of EU, USA and other Western countries
are presented currently in Kyiv. Special delegation of European People’s Party
of European Parliament has arrived in Kyiv several days ago to help to organize
negotiations’ process between the sides of the conflict. Many diplomats and
politicians are also in Kyiv. EU liberal politicians have stated on Tuesday
they plan to be regularly presented on Maidan – Kyiv Independence Square, heart
of the protests.
 |
| Four Ukrainian Presidents: Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma, Victory Yushchenko and Victor Yanukovich (Image: UA-Obozrevatel) |
Victoria Nuland, Deputy of State Secretary of USA John Kerry, has
already arrived in Kyiv in order to study the situation, to meet
representatives of Ukrainian government and opposition and to help to organize negotiations
needed to resolve the crisis. USA is deeply concerned with the development of
the current situation in Ukraine and call on the government and Victor
Yanukovich to listen to the citizens of Ukraine and to avoid use of force.
Victoria Nuland is reportedly meeting with the oppositional leaders in the
building of Trade Unions in Kyiv downtown now. Arseny Yatsenyuk, Oleg
Tyagnybok, Vitaly Klichko, Petro Poroshenko and other representatives and
leaders of Ukrainian opposition are presented at the meeting. Mrs. Nuland plans
to meet with the leaders of Ukrainian government.
Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs
and Security Policy for the EU, is also expected to visit Kyiv on Tuesday in
order to mediate the negotiations between the government and opposition to find
the political and peaceful way out of the deepening crisis. Catherine Ashton
stated earlier that EU and she personally are extremely concerned with the
current situation in the country and call for the authorities to hear the voice
of the people and to avoid violence.
Video of dispersing the crowds and cleansing the governmental district by security forces. Video by Hromadske TV:
Mrs. Ashton was also concerned over the Monday’s storming of the office
of the oppositional Batkivshchyna (Homeland) Party. "On the eve of my visit to Kyiv I'm following with the big concern
the infromation about the violent storming of the office of the biggest
Ukrainian oppositional party Batkivshchyna (Honeland) by the security forces”,
declared Mrs. Ashton. – “ It happened on the same day, when President Victor
Yanukovich proposed to hold the dialogue in order to gather the leaders of all
political forces and three previous Presidents of Ukraine. These latest events
are a serious danger of destruction of this process. I call to the authorities
of Ukraine to show the biggest restraint and to avoid further use of force in
order to create the spece for the negotiations to resolve the current political
situation".
Meanwhile the situation around the building of the Delegation of EU in
Kyiv is tense as dozens of so called “titushky” (youth of sportive stature paid
by government for making provocations during the peaceful protests), who
surrounded the main entrance to the building. Representatives of Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called for police to interfere and to resolve the
situation.
 |
| EU Catherine Ashton (Image: The international coalition) |
As for the protests sites, their square has significantly decreased
since Monday evening when special forces and police have been dispersing the
crowds, tents and block posts of the protesters blocking the governmental
district. The barricades have been removed, and the cordons of the police and
security forces have pushed demonstrators back to Independence Square. But
protesters remain defiant claiming they will not leave until their demands are
met.
On the current stage Independence Square (Maidan) and building of Kyiv
City Council remain under control of the protesters.
Kyiv central underground stations do not work and are closed for the
second day limiting movements in the center of Kyiv.
Thus the situation remains tense with just a few ways to resolve the
situation remaining for the government and Victor Yanukovich. USA Freedom House
has called earlier for Victor Yanukovich to step down as it is the only one way
for him to resolve the crisis and safe the face.
In other case the organization
will address US and EU governments to impose personal sanctions on Ukrainian
President and leading figures of government.
 |
| USA Victoria Nuland (Image: Wikipedia) |
Protesters in their turn have addressed the opposition as well with the
joint statement with the main demands of Maidan protesters. The demands are the
following: release of all unlawfully detained people after clashes near
President’s office on 1 December; withdrawal of the Special Forces soldiers
from the streets of Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine and stopping violence
against peaceful demonstrators; agreements about not using repressive measures
against the activists and participants of the protest actions. These three
demands are the most important on the current stage. Next steps should be
following: President should be stripped of his dictatorial powers through the
procedure of returning in the power 2004 Constitution and cancelling of the
2010 Constitutional reform; signing of the Association Agreement with the
countries of EU; implementing of the new electoral law; implementing of the
lustration law, especially in judicial system, prosecution and police.
Ukrainian anti-governmental protests continue
for the 19th day as President remains completely silent. The meeting
of the four Presidents isn’t being sired as it was proposed, and there are conflicting
reports regarding this meeting.
No comments:
Post a Comment