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Protesters Beat Police Officer in Ukraine, Ministry Says Protesters Beat Police Officer in Ukraine, Ministry Says
(7 months later)
KIEV, Ukraine — Antigovernment protesters here in the capital, who have become angrier and rougher in recent weeks, captured and beat a plainclothes police officer in the part of the city controlled by demonstrators, the authorities said Saturday. KIEV, Ukraine — Antigovernment protesters here in the capital, who have become angrier and rougher in recent weeks, captured and beat a plainclothes police officer in the part of the city controlled by demonstrators, the authorities said Saturday.
While much attention has focused on the plight of protesters in the skirmishes and fighting in the streets during the civil unrest here, the Interior Ministry, which controls the police, says dozens of law enforcement officers have also suffered.While much attention has focused on the plight of protesters in the skirmishes and fighting in the streets during the civil unrest here, the Interior Ministry, which controls the police, says dozens of law enforcement officers have also suffered.
Protesters belonging to an organization called the Defense of Maidan, after the name of the central plaza they have occupied since November, detained the plainclothes police officer and escorted him to a building under the control of the opposition, known as the Headquarters of the Resistance.Protesters belonging to an organization called the Defense of Maidan, after the name of the central plaza they have occupied since November, detained the plainclothes police officer and escorted him to a building under the control of the opposition, known as the Headquarters of the Resistance.
“They took the policeman’s badge, his personal belongings and also continued to strike him with multiple blows,” the ministry’s statement said. It also said that Yuri Levchenko, an official with the Svoboda political party, one of three opposition parties associated with the protests, watched the beating without intervening.“They took the policeman’s badge, his personal belongings and also continued to strike him with multiple blows,” the ministry’s statement said. It also said that Yuri Levchenko, an official with the Svoboda political party, one of three opposition parties associated with the protests, watched the beating without intervening.
The political opposition denied the entire account but read into it important indications of the government’s intentions all the same. The two-month standoff here began when President Viktor F. Yanukovych rejected a free-trade agreement with the European Union and turned instead to Russia for a financial aid package.The political opposition denied the entire account but read into it important indications of the government’s intentions all the same. The two-month standoff here began when President Viktor F. Yanukovych rejected a free-trade agreement with the European Union and turned instead to Russia for a financial aid package.
Mr. Levchenko said in a telephone interview that he was in a different occupied building overnight from Friday to Saturday and that dozens of witnesses could confirm that he had not presided over the beating of a police officer.Mr. Levchenko said in a telephone interview that he was in a different occupied building overnight from Friday to Saturday and that dozens of witnesses could confirm that he had not presided over the beating of a police officer.
“This is an absolute lie,” he said, but one intended, he suggested, to balance reports on Friday that an opposition leader, Dmytro Bulatov, had been tortured by having his hands nailed to a door, apparently by supporters of the government. “They want to show they are not the only bad guys, that there are bad guys on the other side of the barricades, too,” Mr. Levchenko said.“This is an absolute lie,” he said, but one intended, he suggested, to balance reports on Friday that an opposition leader, Dmytro Bulatov, had been tortured by having his hands nailed to a door, apparently by supporters of the government. “They want to show they are not the only bad guys, that there are bad guys on the other side of the barricades, too,” Mr. Levchenko said.
Mention of his name in the Interior Ministry statement, he said, could be a signal to surrogates of the authorities who are believed to be kidnapping opposition leaders that he should become a target.Mention of his name in the Interior Ministry statement, he said, could be a signal to surrogates of the authorities who are believed to be kidnapping opposition leaders that he should become a target.
The State Department issued a statement condemning torture in Ukraine. And in Europe, European and American diplomats intensified efforts to mediate a political resolution.The State Department issued a statement condemning torture in Ukraine. And in Europe, European and American diplomats intensified efforts to mediate a political resolution.
Positions seemed only to harden in Kiev. On Saturday an underground organization called Red Sector that is supportive of the government claimed responsibility for setting on fire the parked cars of protesters. Through the week, more than 20 cars were burned at night.Positions seemed only to harden in Kiev. On Saturday an underground organization called Red Sector that is supportive of the government claimed responsibility for setting on fire the parked cars of protesters. Through the week, more than 20 cars were burned at night.
“Yesterday we burned more than a few cars of the idiots who slipped into Kiev, trashed the city and think they are the bosses,” the group’s statement, posted on Facebook, said. “We apologize if we destroyed property of normal people. But you should understand that without our activists, tomorrow the fascists will put up a tent in your apartment.”“Yesterday we burned more than a few cars of the idiots who slipped into Kiev, trashed the city and think they are the bosses,” the group’s statement, posted on Facebook, said. “We apologize if we destroyed property of normal people. But you should understand that without our activists, tomorrow the fascists will put up a tent in your apartment.”
The name Red Sector mimics that of an opposition group, Right Sector, which claimed responsibility for throwing firebombs at riot police officers.The name Red Sector mimics that of an opposition group, Right Sector, which claimed responsibility for throwing firebombs at riot police officers.