Kyiv, 6 February 2014
One protestor was seriously injured as a bomb exploded at EuroMaidan’s main office. One protestor lost his hand as a bomb exploded in the House of Trade Unions, the EuroMaidan’s main office. The bomb was hidden in a box with medicine, media reported.
Automaidan leader believes he was kidnapped by Russian special task forces. Dmytro Bulatov, a tortured leader of Automaidan, gave an interview in Lithuanian hospital assuming that he was kidnapped and tortured by Russian special task forces. They spoke only Russian and talked about us [Ukrainians] in third person, Bulatov said. He also did not rule out that Victor Medvedchuk, a pro-Russian politician and leader of Ukrainskyi Vybir [Ukrainian Choice] political movement, was involved in his kidnapping as the criminals asked a lot about the reasons why Automaidan picketed Medvedchuk’s house. Bulatov also emphasized that a guess on Russian special task forces involvement is based on his personal thoughts.
Over 100 Ukrainian diplomats supported Euromaidan. Over 100 of Ukrainian diplomats signed a petition expressing their solidarity with the people protesting on Maidan for better future of Ukraine, Liga reported. They backed peaceful settlement of the crisis based on effective dialogue, the news agency wrote, adding that the signatories also emphasized their support to Ukraine’s European integration as the country’s strategic course.
Ruslana named Ukrainian officials to be targeted by European sanctions. During her visit to Poland, Ruslana, a leader of Euromaidan movement, named Ukrainian officials to be targeted by sanctions. Among others she named Andriy Klyuyev, head of Presidential Administration, Vitaliy Zacharchenko, acting minister of interior, Mykola Azarov, former Prime Minister, and Oleksandr Yefremov, chair of the Party of Regions in the Parliament. Ruslana also emphasized, that the use of sanctions depends only on political will. How many people should be killed in Ukraine to make Europe imposing targeting sanctions? – Ruslana asked rhetorically.
General Prosecutor’s Office qualified the attack on Tetiana Chornovol as hooliganism. Roman Andreev, a Deputy Prosecutor General, said that the attack on Tetiana Chornovol, a EuroMaidan activist and a journalist investigating Yanukovych’s misuse of power, was an act of hooliganism.
General of police in Cherkasy threatened local authorities by massive protest if they fail to reduce tensions. Mykola Kapliy, a general of police and former head of interior ministry in Cherkasy oblast, threatened local authorities to bring more than 10 thousand people to the streets if they fail to reduce tensions in 3 days. He also noted that 40% of local police staff would switch on the peoples’ side if he calls them.
EuroMaidan commandant ruled out any negotiations with authorities unless detained protestors are released. Andriy Parubiy, an opposition MP and EuroMaidan commandant ruled out any negotiations with law enforcement agencies unless all detained protestors are released. We would not leave any singly barricade and building until the protestors’ demands are satisfied. Parubiy also stressed that contacts between veterans of Afghanistan war and “Pravyi Sector” with law enforcement agencies are not the negotiations.
A lawyer of a Euromaidan activist was left in custody for another 30 days. Victor Smaliy, a lawyer of Andriy Dzyndzia, a Euromaidan activist, was left in custody for another 30 days. Smaliy was arrested in December 2013 on suspicion of attempted murder of a judge. Andriy Dzyndzia was also detained in late 2013 but then released a few days ago, media recalled.
European Parliament called on the EU to introduce personal sanctions. European Parliament passed a harsh resolution on Ukraine calling on the EU and its member states to take immediate actions including increased diplomatic pressure and introduction of personalized targeted measures with regard to all those Ukrainian officials and legislators and their business sponsors who are responsible for the crackdown on and death of protestors. The resolution also urged to step up efforts to stop money laundering and tax evasion by Ukrainian companies and businesspeople in European banks. In addition, the MEPs expressed their full solidarity and support for the peoples’ efforts for a free, democratic, independent Ukraine and its European perspective.
Ashton: EU is more than willing to support investigation of violence in Ukraine. Ukrainska Pravda quotes Catherine Ashton, EU HR/VP, saying that the EU is more than willing to support investigation of violence in Ukraine. “Although there is a sense of violence decreasing, there is still great concern about the situation on the ground,” Ashton emphasized. The EU’s chief diplomat also underlined that there is a great concern to see that those who have committed violence are brought to justice and a great desire to see some kind of transparent and independent process to achieve that.
Füle: EU’s strategy on Ukraine is not centred around sanctions. Comments.ua quotes Štefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and ENP, saying that the EU has a strategy on Ukraine which is not centred around sanctions. The first stage of the strategy is de-escalation ensuring minimum stability and security. Second stage is about political process including creating environment for inclusive political dialogue to tackle medium and long term challenges Ukraine is facing, Füle said, adding that at this stage Kyiv should address the issue of constitution change. The third stage is about the Association Agreement, the Commissioner continued.
Putin’s advisor: Yanukovych has no other options but to use force against the riot. Speaking on the ongoing Ukrainian crisis, Sergey Glaziev, a foreign policy advisor to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, stressed that EuroMaidan could not be named as peaceful protest, Kommersant-Ukraina reported. When protestors throw Molotov cocktails into police and seize the administrative buildings it’s a riot and not a peaceful protest, Glaziev stressed, adding that Victor Yanukovych, Ukraine’s President, has no other options but to use force to restore the order.
Rybak: next parliamentary seating to be convened after constitutional amendments are prepared. Volodymyr Rybak, head of Ukrainian Parliament, closed today’s parliamentary seating, adding that the next one will be convened only after the MPs jointly developed changes to the Constitution, Ukrainska Pravda reported. Although opposition refused to delegate its representative to a working group on constitutional reform, Rybak believes that amendments to the Constitution would be tabled by the mid of the next week.
Chair of PoR faction: Constitution can be amended no sooner than September. Oleksand Yefremov, chair of the Party of Regions faction in the Parliament, said that his political force is ready to work o constitution changes, adding that the country’s main law could be amended no sooner that September as it takes two parliamentary sessions to pass the changes. Any other so-called constitutional acts would not be lawful and could be cancelled by a court, the MP emphasized.
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