Ukraine: report about mass killings of the Maidan protesters revealed

Protesters in Maidan, 18-20 February 2014
(Image: AFP)

The heads of the security forces and police and the members of the special investigative teams have recently revealed their report regarding the mass killings of Ukrainian Maidan protesters happened on 18-20 February 2014, when the Euromaidan protests turned terribly violent, as the protesters attempted to march to the governmental district of Kyiv and were killed en masses by the security forces. More than hundred Ukrainian protesters were killed during those days and hundreds were wounded.

Special investigative team was formed and appointed by Ukrainian transitional government and Oleksandr Turchinov, the head of Ukrainian Parliament. The investigation results were really controversial, and the report of the heads of the security forces and the investigative team was recently revealed.

Switzerland arrests financial assets and imposes sanctions on Yanukovich and Ukrainian high officials from his circle

Government of Switzerland has officially announced that it imposes sanctions against Ukrainian former President Victor Yanukovich and high officials from his close circle and arrests all the property and financial assets of them found on the territory of Switzerland.

The assets and property must be arrested since 26 February 2014.

The list includes 20 people representing Yanukovich regime:

Ukraine: acting President was appointed, EU announces its support of Ukrainian future government, Yanukovich disappeared, Yulia Tymoshenko is not welcomed as potential presidential candidate

Commemoration of slain protesters, Heroes of Ukraine
(Image: Euromaidan Facebook page)

After historical Parliamentary session held on Saturday and really decisive day for Ukrainians Parliament has officially declared return to the 2004 Constitution and impeached Yanukovich. Early presidential elections are set on 25 May 2014. Parliament has also voted on Sunday for the candidacy of acting President and appointed on this position current Speaker of Parliament Oleksandr Turchinov, according to the norms of the Constitution.

Oleksandr Turchinov in his turn has announced the beginning of forming of the interim government replacing the positions of Minister of Interior, Minister of Health, Minister of Education, Prosecutor General, Head of SBU (Intelligence Office) and others. European integration was declared as the main course of Ukrainian international policies, stated Mr. Turchinov.

Euromaidan revolution: historical moment for Ukraine, but the battle continues

Independence Square (Maidan) on Saturday
(Image: Reuters)

After horrible days of the real street war led by Yanukovich regime against Ukrainian protesters in the streets of Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine the country has experienced really decisive moments changing the country significantly. But this victory is not final yet, and the battle continues, as the most important task of Euromaidan revolution and the key demand is total change of power in the country.

Ukrainian Parliament has gathered on Saturday for the fourth day amid the continuous attempts to resolve the deepening crisis in Ukraine in a peaceful and legitimate way, as EU ministers and diplomats are in Ukraine, and Western and Russian politicians as well follow the situation closely.

Ukrainian uprising: agreement between Yanukovich and opposition, historical parliamentary session, commemoration of slain protesters and threats of an attempt of Ukraine’s federalization

Kyiv Maidan after violent clashes
(Image: Den')

Ukrainians have experienced really black days in the entire history of the independent state since the beginning of the horrible and brutal assault of security forces against Euromaidan protesters, leaving more than 100 people killed and thousands badly injured. After the previous days of terrible fights, when Kyiv turned into Syria-like battlefield, and extremely hard night, when several living districts have been attacked by the so called “titushki” and thugs, and Ukrainians united in the self-organized units of self-defense and patrolled the streets of the city all night long, Friday was relatively calm for the protesters despite the worries about the possibility of the new assault.

Truce announced by Yanukovich regime was broken. Dozens of killed people as the clashes are ongoing

Independence Square (Maidan) turned into a battlefield
(Image: Drugoi Livejournal)

The temporarily truce offered by Yanukovich and announced after Wednesday’s night talks with the oppositional leaders was broken early in the morning as the Thursday’s Parliamentary session has started. The sides accuse each other of the beginning of clashes, as pro-Yanukovich forces and representatives of riot police claimed that protesters have started the clashes, while activists of Euromaidan and numerous journalists state that fighters of “Berkut” and riot police have started the clashes throwing Molotov cocktails and provoking violence and chaos. The accounts on the beginning of the violence remain conflicting.

Ukrainian protests continue. Temporarily ceasefire was reached during the talks between Yanukovich and opposition

Maidan (Independence Square) in the morning of Thursday,
after night's attack
(Image: DPA)

Confrontations between Ukrainian protesters and activists of Euromaidan and “Berkut” and security forces are ongoing in Kyiv and in other Ukrainian cities as well, as opposition and Yanukovich have failed to reach an agreement during the Tuesday’s negotiations.

Ministry of Health reported about at least 30 killed people, though the eyewitnesses and doctors working on the ground and in the hospitals claim there are more casualties and thousands of wounded, most of them with the wounds caused by live ammunition and bombs.

Ukraine: Violent confrontation is ongoing for the second day as EU is ready to impose sanctions

Kyiv Independence Square on fire
(Image: RTR)

Fierce clashes and violent confrontations are ongoing in Ukrainian capital Kyiv and all over Ukraine, as protesters refuse to give up and Yanukovich’s regime continues to kill Ukrainian citizens.

The clashes erupted on Tuesday, 18 February, between the peaceful protesters heading to the building of Parliament, and security forces firing teargas, throwing Molotoc cocktails, shooting birdshots and sound and smoke bombs at the protesters causing chaos and violent clashes. Kyiv downtown and Maidan (Independence Square) have turned into a real battlefield, as dozens of thousands of activists and protesters have been defending Maidan and its barricades despite using of live ammunition and bombs against the protesters. Military vehicles have been deployed to the scene.

Violent clashes erupted in Ukrainian capital during the peaceful protests of Euromaidan

Fierce clashes in Independence Square in Kyiv
(Image: +Yana York )

Violent clashes between the peaceful protesters and riot police and supporters of Yanukovich and his government erupted on Tuesday, as protesters have marched to the governmental district and building of Parliament, where the decisive parliamentary session aimed to discuss and vote for the Constitutional reform and for the candidacy of the new Prime Minister has been held.

Oppositional leaders have been calling for the activists and protesters to gather on Tuesday for the massive peaceful marches to be held in front of the Parliament’s building in order to pressure the MPs. Huge columns of protesters and self-defense of Euromaidan have marched to the Parliament building and other administrative buildings as well, where they have been stopped by the strong lines of riot police and the so called “titushki” (paid thugs used by Yanukovich’s regime to attack and intimidate the protesters).

Ukrainian protesters prepare for the decisive Tuesday’s Parliamentary session as opposition has met with Angela Merkel

Euromaidan anti-government protests in Kyiv
(Image: Kyiv Post)

Ukrainian activists and protesters are preparing for the Tuesday’s massive march to the building of Parliament, where the decisive session is expected to be held. Oppositional MPs demand voting for the Constitutional reform in order to amend the current national Charter and to return to the 2004 Constitution, limiting powers of President and establishing parliamentary-presidential form of governance instead of the presidential one, what allowed Yanukovich to build a strong vertical of power working for his interests and oppressing freedoms and rights of Ukrainians.

Ukraine: Euromaidan continues its rallies as opposition and government have reached first agreements in the talks

Massive rally has been held in Kyiv on Sunday, 16 February
(Image: Olga Lappo)

Another traditional People’s Council has been held on Sunday, 16 February, in Kyiv’s Independence Square, as Euromaidan rallies and peaceful protests continue all over Ukraine. Nearly 100 thousand people have gathered in Sunday in Kyiv and dozens of thousands have joined Euromaidan rallies in other Ukrainian cities as well.

People have gathered to hear the strategy and the next steps of the plan of opposition in their talks with the authorities and in the fight for freedom and democracy of Ukraine.

Ukrainian protests continue as opposition has held the tenth People’s Council and Parliament remains in a deadlock

Ukrainian protesters in Independence Square on Sunday
(Image: Kyiv Post)

Dozens of thousands of protesters have gathered on Sunday, 9 February, in Kyiv Independence Square for the tenth rally dubbed “People’s Council”, as Yanukovich’s regime and opposition still cannot find a solution of the deepening political crisis, and the talks seem to become in a deadlock, same as parliamentary debates over the Constitutional reform and fulfillment of the demands of Euromaidan.

Subday’s rally has started traditionally with the prayer, and then politicians, oppositional leaders, civic activists and artists have delivered their speeches from the stage.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk, one of the oppositional leaders, has declared that oppositional leaders aren’t scared of losing their popularity by forming an interim government pressed to possibly take unpopular decisions and that opposition is ready to sacrifice the ratings for the sake of the county’s future. But at the same time there’s no place for trade for the ministerial positions, claimed Mr. Yatsenyuk, referring to the offers of Yanukovich of the position of Prime Minister to him.

Ukraine: activists of Euromaidan marched to the Parliament as MPs failed to reach agreement again. West is ready for serious actions

Protesters heading towards Ukrainian Parliament
(Image: Андрій Парубій)

Situation in Ukraine still remains tense amid the deepening political crisis and inability of the ruling powers and Yanukovich and opposition to reach consensus. Tens of thousands of people continue to protest in Kyiv Independence Square and in other governorates as well, as the regional offices in many governorates are still under control of protesters and People’s Councils.

Ukrainian Parliament was expected to discuss the issue of amending the Constitution and vote for this decision during Thursday’s session, on 6 February, but despite the debates and talks consensus weren’t reached.

Parliament is divided over the Constitutional reform issue in at least two camps, one of them is represented by the ruling pro-Yanukovich Party of regions, and the second one is represented by the oppositional forces and individual MPs.

Ukraine: Sunday massive rally in Kyiv, results of Munich Conference and deadlock in parliament

Massive anti-government rallies in Kyiv
(Image: Radio Svoboda)

Situation in Ukraine remains tense, as political crisis is still not resolved and there is no consensus between the government and opposition, and massive protesters continue for more than 70 days despite the frosts and snow.

Sunday, 2 February, has gathered tens of thousands of Ukrainians in Kyiv’s Independence Square and thousands of people all over Ukraine as well, as several regions are still under control of People’s Councils with their regional offices taken by protesters.

Ukrainian Parliament could start the next session with the formation of the Constitutional Committee

Independence Square in Kyiv
 (Image: UNIAN)

After the extraordinary session of Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) has been held and parliamentarians have voted for cancelling the dictatorial 16 January laws and for the controversial amnesty law, speaker of Ukrainian Parliament Mr. Rybak has stated, that the next session to be started on Monday, 3 February, could start with the discussions of the amendments of Ukrainian Constitution and formation of the special Constitutional Committee.

According to the statement of Mr. Rybak, this Committee should consist of the representatives of various political forces, oppositional and pro-government ones. The agreement about it was reached between the leaders of opposition and representatives of government on Wednesday, stressed Parliament’s Speaker.

Ukrainian Parliament votes for the new amnesty law amid the deepening political crisis

Wednesday's Parliament's session
(Image: TSN)

Massive anti-government protests continue in Ukraine nationwide, as the talks between the oppositional leaders and Yanukovich are ongoing, and Ukrainian Parliament gathers for the second day for the extraordinary sessions on order to resolve political crisis in the country.

During the decisive Tuesday’s session on 28 January Ukrainian Parliament has voted in favor of cancelling of almost all the dictatorial 16 January laws restricting personal and civil rights and freedoms of Ukrainians. Cabinet of Ministers of Mykola Azarov has resigned temporally government was formed and will be headed by Vice-Prime Minister Sergiy Arbuzov, until the new government will be formed and appointed.

Ukrainian Parliament cancelled dictatorial laws. Cabinet of Ministers resigned

MPs of Ukrainian Parliament, commemorating the victims of the
clashes. Beginning of the session
(Image: Radio Svoboda)

After four rounds of negotiations held between Ukrainian oppositional leaders and Yanukovich and amid deepening political crisis in the country and confrontations between the protesters and security forces and seizing of power by the revolutionaries in several regions of Ukraine, Ukrainian Parliament have gathered for the urgent session on Tuesday, 28 January. This parliamentary session was expected to be a decisive one, as parliamentarians had to discuss the current situation in the country in order to find the solution. In addition to that there were fears about voting for imposing state of emergency in Ukraine.

Ukraine: The fourth round of negotiations between opposition and authorities ended

Revolutionary Kyiv
(Image: Unian)

Revolution continues in Ukraine, as people still seize and control many administrative buildings and regional offices in several Ukrainian governorates and remain in the street of Kyiv and other cities nationwide, even in some Eastern and Southern cities, such as Dnipropetrivsk, Cherkasy and Zaporizhzhya, where police and so called “titushki” (paid thugs hired by regime to attack and intimidate activists of Euromaidan) have brutally dispersed the protesters.

Ukraine: The revolution continues

Lines of barricades and burning tires in Kyiv
(Image: TVI)

Revolution in Ukraine continues, as tens of thousands of protesters remain permanently in Independence Square and Grushevsky Street in Kyiv and Ukrainians all over Ukraine continue to seize the regional offices and governmental buildings forming National Councils and declaring people’s authority in the regions.

In Kyiv protesters have taken Ukrainian House, located on European Square, close to the site of confrontation. There were reports about special security forces (“Berkut”) located in the building and preparing for the dispersal. The clashes lasted several hours, when oppositional leader Vitaly Klichko and some other oppositional politicians arrived in the Ukrainian House and have held negotiations with the Special Forces. As a result of these talks the corridor was formed, and the policemen were able to leave the building. Ukrainian House is under protesters’ control at the moment, as people are cleaning the building.

Revolutionary Ukraine: Confrontations continue amid the third round of negotiations between Yanukovich and opposition

Protesters on the barricades
(Image: Den')

Situation in Ukraine remains tense as confrontations continue between protesters and security forces and riot police in Kyiv downtown. The day was relatively calm, though the sound and smoke bombs and fireworks have been thrown from time to time by the both sides. The situation escalated in the late evening, as the reports appeared that government possible prepares for the force dispersal of Maidan and all the protests’ sites, and soldiers of special security forces “Berkut” are stationed in the building of Ukrainian House, located on European Square, right in the rear of protesters. Protestors are currently storming the building, the entrances are blocked by the barricades, confrontation continues, and the situation is tense.