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Three protesters dead as standoff with riot police in Ukraine continues Three protesters dead as standoff with riot police in Ukraine continues
(about 3 hours later)
KIEV, Ukraine — Riot police broke through barriers Wednesday morning and briefly swept away the protesters who had been confronting them with stones and Molotov cocktails on Hrushevsky Street since Sunday. KIEV, Ukraine — Anti-government street protests here turned deadly overnight, as opposition organizers announced that three demonstrators had been killed, one from a fall and two shot by police.
The move came just moments after the opposition had announced that one demonstrator had died of a gunshot wound, apparently inflicted by a sniper, during the night. Another demonstrator died after he fell off an entry arch at Dynamo Stadium. A medic reported a third death, the Associated Press reported. Wednesday morning saw formations of riot police, holding their shields overhead in a way that made their lines resemble huge, scaly, metal snakes, twice break through barriers and sweep away the protesters who had been confronting them with stones and molotov cocktails on Hrushevsky Street.
The U.S. Embassy in Kiev announced that it has revoked the visas of Ukrainians it deems to be responsible for the violence here. It said it would not identify who those people are, but official American statements on the crisis here suggest that those affected are probably Ukrainian government or police officials. Each time, police retreated to their original position, and stone-throwing protesters reoccupied the street.
The leaders of the three main opposition parties issued a joint statement lamenting the shooting deaths of two protesters, one of whom medics said was shot four times, and blaming the government of President Viktor Yanukovych. The confrontation took place on a Ukrainian holiday, Unification Day. It could complicate the task for the leaders of the opposition, who have tried to maintain a peaceful protest against the government of President Viktor Yanukovych and have denounced violence as self-defeating. But the sight of the fierce young men, in helmets and homemade body armor, thrilled thousands of spectators who didn’t take direct part in the clashes.
Ukraine has seen continuous protests in the capital since Nov. 21, when Yanukovych suddenly backed off a trade deal with Europe and turned to Russia for support. The demonstrations have centered on an encampment on Kiev’s Independence Square, known as the Maidan, and its leaders have continually stressed the need to avoid clashes.
[Why are they protesting?]
But Sunday evening, the break-away group of frustrated nationalists marched off the Maidan to Hrushevsky Street, where they were confronted by police. They threw stones, fireworks and molotov cocktails. Police responded with stun grenades and rubber bullets.
The violence, and especially Wednesday’s escalation, seemed only to harden the resolve of both sides. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Ukraine’s government will not bow to anarchy or accept a division of the country.
He said the opposition has to decide whether it will renounce the violence of the nationalists on Hrushevsky Street, or embrace it and take the consequences.
“If no, [opposition leaders] should call on the demonstrators to stop confrontation,” Azarov said at a government meeting, according to the Interfax news agency. “And if yes, claim responsibility for these actions.”
The leaders of the three main opposition parties — Vitaly Klitschko, Arseny Yatsenyuk, and Oleh Tyahnibok — issued a statement lamenting the shooting deaths of the two demonstrators, one of whom medics said was shot four times, and blaming Yanukovych’s government. A third demonstrator died after he fell off an entry arch at Dynamo Stadium.
“Four gunshot wounds to the head and neck in one of the dead is not self-defense,” the statement said. “The direct responsibility for this act of terror against the citizens of dictatorship lies heavily on the interior minister — the bloody killer Vitaliy Zakharchenko.“Four gunshot wounds to the head and neck in one of the dead is not self-defense,” the statement said. “The direct responsibility for this act of terror against the citizens of dictatorship lies heavily on the interior minister — the bloody killer Vitaliy Zakharchenko.
It continued: “All that will happen now in the country, the life and safety of every citizen, and the protesters’ deaths, are the personal responsibility of President Viktor Yanukovych, who has been ignoring the demands of peace for two months.” “All that will happen now in the country, the life and safety of every citizen, and the protesters’ deaths, are the personal responsibility of President Viktor Yanukovych, who has been ignoring the demands of peace for two months.”
The opposition leaders — Vitali Klitschko, Arseny Yatsenyuk, and Oleh Tyahnibok — demanded the withdrawal of the riot police, the resignation of Zakharchenko, and the withdrawal of young men alleged to be in the pay of the police to create mayhem by smashing cars and beating up passersby. The leaders later said they had arranged a meeting with Yanukovych for Wednesday afternoon.
The issue of the thugs for hire, known here as “titushki,” has become a potent addition to the grievances of the protesters. In Independence Square, meanwhile, Yuri Lutsenko, an opposition leader who once served as interior minister, said the opposition should forget about negotiating with Yanukovych. Instead, he said, the opposition parties should establish themselves as the provisional government of Ukraine, under Klitschko’s leadership.
Opposition groups have been scouting the streets of Kiev the last two nights in search of titushki, and at least a dozen young men have been rounded up and taken forcibly to the protest headquarters. Almost all of them are teenagers. Klitschko, Yatsenyuk and Tyahnibok demanded the withdrawal of the riot police, the resignation of Zakharchenko, and the removal of young men who, they allege, are being paid by police to create mayhem in the streets by smashing cars and beating up passersby.
The interior ministry declared that 40 people were “kidnapped” in Kiev Tuesday night, clearly referring to what the opposition believes is an act of self-defense. The issue of the thugs for hire, known here as “titushki,” has become a potent addition to the grievances of the protesters. Opposition groups scouted the streets of Kiev for the past two nights searching for them, and at least a dozen young men have been rounded up and taken to protest headquarters. Almost all are teenagers.
Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Wednesday the government will not bow to anarchy or accept a division of the country. The Interior Ministry declared that 40 people were “kidnapped.” The opposition says the men were seized in self-defense.
He said the opposition will have to declare whether it supports the Hrushevsky Street protesters’ resort to violence. “If no, it should call on the demonstrators to stop confrontation, and if yes, claim responsibility for these actions,” he said, in remarks at a government meeting reported by the Interfax news agency. All told, since Sunday, several hundred protesters and police troops have been reported wounded in the clashes between police and demonstrators.
In Wednesday morning’s skirmish, the police troops did not immediately turn the corner at the bottom of the street and head toward Independence Square, where a peaceful encampment has existed since Nov. 21. Instead, they pulled back to their lines, and the Hrushevsky Street quickly filled again with angry protesters. When police first broke through the barricades to confront protesters at 8 a.m. Wednesday, they caught only a few stragglers. They carried one man, occasionally beating him, past burned-out buses and through a backup line of police, who beat their shields in appreciation.
The police appeared to catch only a few stragglers on Hrushevsky Street. They carried one, occasionally beating him, back past the barricade of burnt out buses and through a backup line of police, who were beating their shields in appreciation. A live video feed showed other police troops starting to clear away debris. Several had whipped out their phones and were taking photos of the scene. A live Internet video feed from the scene showed other police troops starting to clear away debris. Several had whipped out their phones and were taking photos of the area.
A few protesters who had been caught were escorted by police on foot. One had a bloody head wound. A few protesters who had been caught were escorted away on foot. One had a bloody head wound.
The attack, at just after 8 a.m., took place on a Ukrainian holiday — Unification Day. During the second raid, the front line of police troops faltered momentarily as it was hit with a barrage of stones. Some officers took a few steps back, then continued their advance.
The confrontation on Hrushevsky Street had complicated the task for the leaders of the opposition who have tried to maintain a peaceful protest and have denounced violence as self-defeating. But the sight of fierce young men, in helmets and homemade body armor, had thrilled thousands of spectators who didn’t take direct part in the clashes. Following both police sweeps, hard-hat-wearing protesters flowed back up the street, throwing paving stones at their opponents.
Several hundred have been reported wounded on both sides. Last night brought the first two deaths. The U.S. Embassy in Kiev announced that several Ukrainians who it believes are linked to the violent clashes hold visas that allow them to visit the United States. Those visas are being revoked, the embassy said.
By 8:30 a.m.Wednesday hard-hat-wearing protesters were back at the line of buses, throwing paving stones at the police. Embassy officials would not identify who the visa-holders are, but official American statements on the crisis here suggest that they are probably Ukrainian government or police officials.