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| Using Force, Riot Police Clear a Rally In Ukraine | Using Force, Riot Police Clear a Rally In Ukraine |
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| KIEV, Ukraine — Riot police officers, swinging truncheons and spraying bursts of tear gas, forcibly broke up a crowd of several hundred demonstrators early Saturday who had been protesting in support of far-reaching political and free-trade accords between Ukraine and the European Union that President Viktor F. Yanukovich refused to sign on Friday. | KIEV, Ukraine — Riot police officers, swinging truncheons and spraying bursts of tear gas, forcibly broke up a crowd of several hundred demonstrators early Saturday who had been protesting in support of far-reaching political and free-trade accords between Ukraine and the European Union that President Viktor F. Yanukovich refused to sign on Friday. |
| A crowd of about 10,000 people had gathered in Independence Square in central Kiev on Friday evening as the European Union summit meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, where Mr. Yanukovich had originally planned to sign the agreements, was drawing to a close. | A crowd of about 10,000 people had gathered in Independence Square in central Kiev on Friday evening as the European Union summit meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, where Mr. Yanukovich had originally planned to sign the agreements, was drawing to a close. |
| Several hundred protesters chanting for Mr. Yanukovich’s resignation were still gathered there when the police, wearing helmets and carrying body shields, moved in about 4:30 a.m., according to local news accounts and videos posted online by witnesses. At least several dozen people were beaten, Andriy Shevchenko, a member of Parliament, told the Ukrainska Pravda news site. | |
| Videos posted online showed a large phalanx of police officers swinging clubs and beating back protesters who were far outnumbered. The protesters threw unidentifiable items. In some cases, demonstrators were clubbed or kicked even after they had been pushed to the ground by officers and appeared to be surrendering to arrest. | Videos posted online showed a large phalanx of police officers swinging clubs and beating back protesters who were far outnumbered. The protesters threw unidentifiable items. In some cases, demonstrators were clubbed or kicked even after they had been pushed to the ground by officers and appeared to be surrendering to arrest. |
| The violent dispersal immediately inflamed an already volatile situation in which protesters have been gathering daily in Kiev, the capital, and in cities across the country, to denounce Mr. Yanukovich for backing away from the accords with Europe. It also threatened to widen Ukraine’s political rift with the West, which was on open display at the Vilnius summit meeting. | The violent dispersal immediately inflamed an already volatile situation in which protesters have been gathering daily in Kiev, the capital, and in cities across the country, to denounce Mr. Yanukovich for backing away from the accords with Europe. It also threatened to widen Ukraine’s political rift with the West, which was on open display at the Vilnius summit meeting. |
| Some of the demonstrators fled and took refuge in St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, a landmark church. | Some of the demonstrators fled and took refuge in St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, a landmark church. |
| The Kiev metropolitan police said that at least 35 people were arrested, on various charges of hooliganism and resisting law enforcement authorities, and were released with administrative summonses. | The Kiev metropolitan police said that at least 35 people were arrested, on various charges of hooliganism and resisting law enforcement authorities, and were released with administrative summonses. |
| A police statement said that the enforcement action began after protesters “threw garbage, cups, water bottles and set sticks on fire,” and that officers were asked to clear the square because protesters were in the way of workers trying to install holiday decorations. After the demonstrators became violent, the statement said, “The police pushed the protesters from Independence Square.” | A police statement said that the enforcement action began after protesters “threw garbage, cups, water bottles and set sticks on fire,” and that officers were asked to clear the square because protesters were in the way of workers trying to install holiday decorations. After the demonstrators became violent, the statement said, “The police pushed the protesters from Independence Square.” |
| The statement said that any allegations of injuries due to excess force would be investigated. | The statement said that any allegations of injuries due to excess force would be investigated. |
| Western governments quickly began to respond. The United States Embassy in Kiev issued a statement on Saturday censuring the use of force, and urging the Ukrainian government to respect the rights of demonstrators. | Western governments quickly began to respond. The United States Embassy in Kiev issued a statement on Saturday censuring the use of force, and urging the Ukrainian government to respect the rights of demonstrators. |
| “The United States condemns the violence against protesters on Independence Square early this morning,” the embassy said. “We urge the government of Ukraine to respect the rights of civil society and the principles of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, which are fundamental to the democratic values that are the bedrock of our strategic partnership.” | “The United States condemns the violence against protesters on Independence Square early this morning,” the embassy said. “We urge the government of Ukraine to respect the rights of civil society and the principles of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, which are fundamental to the democratic values that are the bedrock of our strategic partnership.” |
| The statement added, “We support the rights of citizens to air their views through an open and free media and through nonviolent rallies.” | The statement added, “We support the rights of citizens to air their views through an open and free media and through nonviolent rallies.” |
| Secretary of State John Kerry has canceled plans to attend a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is to be held here this week, but other Western officials are already arriving — a special line has been set up for them to go through passport control at Kiev’s main airport — and the criticism was certain to intensify. | Secretary of State John Kerry has canceled plans to attend a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is to be held here this week, but other Western officials are already arriving — a special line has been set up for them to go through passport control at Kiev’s main airport — and the criticism was certain to intensify. |
| Mr. Yanukovich has said that he was under pressure to delay the accords by Russia, Ukraine’s eastern neighbor and most important economic partner. He has called for new negotiations with the Kremlin and the European Union — a proposal that the Europeans have so far rejected. | Mr. Yanukovich has said that he was under pressure to delay the accords by Russia, Ukraine’s eastern neighbor and most important economic partner. He has called for new negotiations with the Kremlin and the European Union — a proposal that the Europeans have so far rejected. |