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| Clashes in Kyiv capital (Image: Radio Svoboda) |
Situation in Ukrainian capital remains extremely tense and escalates
with every hour as “president” Yanukovich failed to appear for the talks
between his “government” and representatives of the oppositional forces, and
riot police and security forces are still in the streets.
Violent clashes erupted between protesters and police and security
forces blocking the governmental district and Grushevsky Street leading to the
key governmental building and preventing the peaceful protesters to walk.
Radical ultra-right activists united in the Right Sector have started to clash
with security forces as tens of thousands of protesters joined them. First
clashes erupted on Sunday, 19 January, when birdshots, teargas, sound and smoke
bombs and water cannons have been used by riot police and security forces
against the demonstrators while the protesters have been throwing rocks,
stones, fireworks and Molotov cocktails. Clashes continued till Tuesday, 21
January. Hundreds of protesters have been injured, a lot of them with the
injuries of eyes, heads and limbs, while Ministry of Interior reports that at
least 160 security personnel have been wounded in the clashes.
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| The rests of the police bus set ablze during the clashes (Image: Radio Svoboda) |
In addition to that the scandalous dictatorial laws of 16 January
criminalizing any form of legal protest and actually stripping Ukrainians of
their civil and personal rights and freedoms have been published in the
official newspapers, despite the promise of Yanukovich that the laws won’t be
published until the talks with the opposition won’t finish. The laws though
appeared in the newspapers and were officially put in effect since midnight of
22 January 2014. It’s worth mentioning, that not only Ukrainian society,
politicians and experts have strongly condemned these laws and have been
calling for Yanukovich to veto them, but also representatives of the Western
countries including USA and EU urged Yanukovich not to support the dictatorial
laws and to stop escalation of the situation. But it didn’t happen, and the
laws were put in effect. Several governorates of Ukraine though (mostly
Western) have already declared that they refuse to obey these laws.
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| Fierce clashes continue in Ukrainian capital (Image: Radio Svoboda) |
Though the situation has significantly worsened since Yanukovich
declared he is ready for the talks with the opposition. He refused to be
present at during the talks and formed special anti-crisis commission headed by
Amdriy Klyuev, who is accused by the activists of Euromaidan and opposition of
the dispersal of protesters. At the same time the key demands of Euromaidan and
its delegates about resignation of the government, stepping down of Yanukovich,
withdrawal of special forces from Kyiv, stop the repressions and release the detained
political prisoners have been totally ignored by Yanukovich and his
authorities, as new military and riot police troops and military technique are
being deployed in the capital of Ukraine. Yanukovich’s regime has added to it
also the so called “titushki”, half-criminal paid elements being used for
provocations and attacks of the protesters. Army of these “titushki” has been
storming shops and cafes in Kyiv downtown in the night of 21 January attacking
and beating the people. Special units of Euromaidan consisted of the activists
and artists have been catching them in the city during the night.
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| Riot police soldier in Kyiv (Image: I-Press) |
In addition to that Vitaly Zakharchenko, Minister of Interior, has
issued a decree on the 20 January allowing security forces to use weapons
against the protesters, what sparked anger among the people, as “Berkut”
(special security forces units) and riot police are shooting the people with
birdshots causing serious injuries.
Repressions and intimidation of the activists and journalists also
continue in Kyiv, as Igor Lutsenko, prominent Ukrainian journalist and
activist, was kidnapped early in the morning on 21 January together with his colleague.
He was found only late in the night and reported the details about his
kidnapping.
Police has also arrested dozens of activists accusing them of
participating in the mass protests and clashes, and the first trials of these
activists have already started in Kyiv and happening with the serious
violations, according to the lawyers and human rights observers.
Video of clashes by Espresso TV:
As the situation in Ukraine escalates and fierce clashes continue, there
were reports in the media that the Parliament is expected to hold a special
meeting on Thursday, 23 January, in order to discuss the possibility of
declaring the state of emergency in the country. Secretary of National Defense
and Security Council of Ukraine Andriy Klyuev though has declared later that
state of emergency won’t be imposed in Ukraine at the current moment as there are
no reasons for it.
As for the negotiations to be held between Ukrainian opposition and
EWuromaidan representatives and Yanukovich, they seem to be in deadlock as
oppositional leaders and Maidan have delivered their demands to Yanukovich
through the team of their delegates and demanded Yanukovich to be presented on
the talks, but Yanukovich failed to appear and continued to put responsibility for
the talks on his “anti-crisis team” headed by Klyuev.
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| Morning after clashes in Kyiv (Image: Radio Svoboda) |
Vitaly Klichko, one of the prominent oppositional leaders, has arrived
in the Administration of President today in order to meet Yanukovich and to
negotiate with him, but Yanukovich didn’t appear again. His team of Klyuev,
Lukash and Portnov announced that Yanukovich had an important meeting and was
very busy and that he would call Klichko later, when he’ll be free. Vitaly
Klichko has left the building as he stated many times before that opposition
and Maidan are willing to negotiate with Yanukovich himself. Later official
website of the “president” has published information that the talks between the
opposition and Yanukovich’s team are ongoing and that Mr. KLichko participates
in them. Mr. Klichko was outraged by this false information as declared that he
withdraws from the negotiations’ process due to the systematical lies and
manipulations of Yanukovich and his “government”. Thus, negotiations are in a
deadlock.
Opposition is calling on Ukrainian people to gather in Kyiv Independence
Square again on 22 January, Day of Unity of Ukraine. Tens of thousands are
expected to join the marches.
Meanwhile opposition and activists of Euromaidan have received alarming
information about the preparation to the force scenario and dispersal of Maidan
and sites of clashes. This information was allegedly received from the trusted
sources close to the Defense and Security Council of Ukraine. According to this
information, special operation for dispersing the protesters is planned for
Tuesday’s night. Nearly eight thousand riot policemen and security forces
including “Berkut” are expected to be used for this operation, and special
technique is also deployed to the area. Task minimum is dispersing of
protesters in Grushevsky Street, where the clashes were ongoing, and control over
this street and European Square. Plan maximum includes total dispersal of
Euromaidan (Independence Square).
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| Clasehs in Kyiv (Image: Radio Svoboda) |
Ukrainian “prime minister” Azarov has also stated today in his interview
for Russia-24 channel that “government” is ready for the forces scenario if the
protests won’t stop.
The situation in Grushevsky Street, the site of the clashes, is
relatively calm now, as protesters, opposition and activists of Eutromaidan
have been holding negotiations with the commanders of police and security
forces urging them not to use force. Ceasefire was declared, but people remain
in the lines in front of the riot police cordons and are ready for the possible
clashes. Despite the ceasefire they are preparing for the attack and dispersal
attempt, thus, the situation is still tense.
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