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Ukraine protest leader says he was tortured into saying he was a US spy Ukraine protest leader says he was tortured into saying he was a US spy
(35 minutes later)
A Ukrainian anti-government activist who fled the country after being abducted said he had been forced under torture to declare himself a US spy.A Ukrainian anti-government activist who fled the country after being abducted said he had been forced under torture to declare himself a US spy.
Dmytro Bulatov, the leader of a protest group known as AutoMaidan, said his kidnappers forced him to say on camera that he had accepted money from the US embassy to organise anti-government protests in Ukraine.Dmytro Bulatov, the leader of a protest group known as AutoMaidan, said his kidnappers forced him to say on camera that he had accepted money from the US embassy to organise anti-government protests in Ukraine.
"I was telling them lies just to stop the torture … at one point I asked them to kill me because I couldn't stand it any more," the 35-year-old said on Thursday, speaking at the Vilnius University emergency hospital in Lithuania where he is being treated after leaving Ukraine on Sunday."I was telling them lies just to stop the torture … at one point I asked them to kill me because I couldn't stand it any more," the 35-year-old said on Thursday, speaking at the Vilnius University emergency hospital in Lithuania where he is being treated after leaving Ukraine on Sunday.
Bulatov was found bloodied and injured in woods outside Kiev on 30 January. He said unidentified assailants had driven nails through his hands in a "crucifixion" and had beaten him during a week in captivity.Bulatov was found bloodied and injured in woods outside Kiev on 30 January. He said unidentified assailants had driven nails through his hands in a "crucifixion" and had beaten him during a week in captivity.
EU leaders offered to help the activist after Ukrainian police said they wanted to charge him with taking part in "mass disorder".EU leaders offered to help the activist after Ukrainian police said they wanted to charge him with taking part in "mass disorder".
The potential charges relate to AutoMaidan's protests, which involve convoys of sometimes hundreds of cars driving to the homes of allies of the Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych.The potential charges relate to AutoMaidan's protests, which involve convoys of sometimes hundreds of cars driving to the homes of allies of the Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych.
Bulatov described his kidnap as "the worst experience I've ever had" and said he still suffers severe headaches and dizziness.Bulatov described his kidnap as "the worst experience I've ever had" and said he still suffers severe headaches and dizziness.
Video of his bloodied face has been replayed repeatedly on opposition television channels in Ukraine, fuelling anger among protesters occupying main streets and public buildings across the country.Video of his bloodied face has been replayed repeatedly on opposition television channels in Ukraine, fuelling anger among protesters occupying main streets and public buildings across the country.
Bulatov said he would not return to Ukraine unless he got guarantees that he would not be prosecuted.Bulatov said he would not return to Ukraine unless he got guarantees that he would not be prosecuted.
"I want my government to give guarantees to the international community that I will not be politically prosecuted," he said later."I want my government to give guarantees to the international community that I will not be politically prosecuted," he said later.
"The government should close all criminal cases against activists, including me, who have taken part in the protests.""The government should close all criminal cases against activists, including me, who have taken part in the protests."
Yanukovich on Thursday told a senior US official that "dialogue and compromise" were the only way out of the political crisis gripping Ukraine, his website said.
In talks with assistant secretary of state Victoria Nuland, Yanukovich said he supported opposition demands for reform of the constitution though this had to be carried out through a process involving the constitutional court and further hearings in parliament.
He also backed moves to speed up the process of releasing activists detained in the civil unrest, the website said, though Yanukovich has supported a law that provides an amnesty for detainees only on condition that occupied public buildings are cleared of protesters.
Yanukovych sparked the protests in November when he spurned a trade pact with the 28-nation EU and turned instead to Ukraine's old master Moscow for financial support.Yanukovych sparked the protests in November when he spurned a trade pact with the 28-nation EU and turned instead to Ukraine's old master Moscow for financial support.