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Crimean city offers refuge to police who battled protesters in Ukraine capital Crimean city offers refuge to police who battled protesters in Ukraine capital
(about 3 hours later)
KIEV, Ukraine — The elite security police force that spearheaded most of the attacks on Maidan protesters has been disbanded, the acting interior minister announced Wednesday morning. KIEV, Ukraine — The elite security police force that spearheaded most of the attacks on protesters in Kiev last week has been disbanded, Ukraine’s acting interior minister announced Wednesday morning.
But they were immediately offered a sanctuary in the pro-Russian Crimean Peninsula, further stoking concerns about secession. But members of the force were immediately offered sanctuary in the pro-Russian Crimean Peninsula, further stoking concerns about divided loyalties in Ukraine.
The force, known as the “Berkut,” was reviled by the protesters in Kiev following attacks that included the use of live ammunition. The force, known as the “Berkut,” was reviled by the protesters in Kiev following attacks that included the use of live ammunition against anti-government demonstrators occupying the capital’s Independence Square, popularly known as the Maidan.
Dismantling such units can be a difficult business. A similar outfit, the Latvia OMON, was disbanded in 1991 and its members became the backbone of organized crime in St. Petersburg, Russia.Dismantling such units can be a difficult business. A similar outfit, the Latvia OMON, was disbanded in 1991 and its members became the backbone of organized crime in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The new head of the Coordinating Council of the Sevastopol city administration, Alexey Chaly, said Berkut troops would be welcome there, according to a Web site called Sevastopol.su.The new head of the Coordinating Council of the Sevastopol city administration, Alexey Chaly, said Berkut troops would be welcome there, according to a Web site called Sevastopol.su.
“These people adequately fulfilled their duty to the country, have shown themselves to be real men,” Chaly wrote, “and are now abandoned to the mercy of this rabid pack of Nazis. For faithful service, today criminal cases are brought against them. At this difficult time our city needs decent men who could form the basis of self-defense groups, and in the future the municipal police. We are ready to provide for them if they join us in our struggle, and to offer safety to their families.”“These people adequately fulfilled their duty to the country, have shown themselves to be real men,” Chaly wrote, “and are now abandoned to the mercy of this rabid pack of Nazis. For faithful service, today criminal cases are brought against them. At this difficult time our city needs decent men who could form the basis of self-defense groups, and in the future the municipal police. We are ready to provide for them if they join us in our struggle, and to offer safety to their families.”
Here in Kiev, interim authorities said they are prepared to ask the approval of a self-organized Maidan council Wednesday evening for a slate of new cabinet ministers. In Kiev, interim authorities said they are prepared to ask the approval of a self-organized Maidan council Wednesday evening for a slate of new cabinet ministers.
The parliament has decided that the people who maintained the protest encampment through three sometimes violent months must be allowed a say in the formation of a new government.The parliament has decided that the people who maintained the protest encampment through three sometimes violent months must be allowed a say in the formation of a new government.
That means the new authorities have been held back from moving too swiftly. But as days go by, Ukraine remains deeply unsettled by the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych. In Kharkiv, a large eastern city where hostility to the Maidan was strong, tensions ran high as rival crowds faced off, with no one seemingly in charge. In the Crimea, with a strong pro-Russian population, a Russian flag was raised on a major government building and four Russian legislators met with local officials. Then came the invitation to the Berkut. That means the new authorities have been held back from moving too swiftly. But as days go by, Ukraine remains deeply unsettled by the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych over the weekend.
Officials in Moscow continued Tuesday to express displeasure with events in Ukraine, if not as harshly as the day before. A law that flew through the Rada on Monday downgraded the status of Russian as an official language, which struck critics as an unnecessary and incendiary move, and which opened Ukraine’s new authorities to stinging criticism from their larger neighbor. In Kharkiv, a large eastern city where hostility to the Maidan protesters was strong, tensions ran high as rival crowds faced off, with no one seemingly in charge. In the Crimea, with a strong pro-Russian population, a Russian flag was raised on a major government building and four Russian legislators met with local officials. Then came the invitation to the Berkut.
Officials in Moscow continued Tuesday to express displeasure with events in Ukraine, if not as harshly as the day before. A law that flew through the Ukrainian parliament on Monday downgraded the status of Russian as an official language, which struck critics as an unnecessary and incendiary move and opened Ukraine’s new authorities to stinging criticism from their larger neighbor.
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, tweeted Tuesday, “We want to curtail the influence of radicals and nationalists who are trying to play first fiddle in Ukraine.”Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, tweeted Tuesday, “We want to curtail the influence of radicals and nationalists who are trying to play first fiddle in Ukraine.”
The turn of events in Ukraine has been a major setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who wants to draw Ukraine into a new Eurasian Economic Union. But protesters on the Maidan worry that Russia still hopes to recoup its losses.The turn of events in Ukraine has been a major setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who wants to draw Ukraine into a new Eurasian Economic Union. But protesters on the Maidan worry that Russia still hopes to recoup its losses.
“There are an awful lot of bandits here,” said Viktoria Ignatova, “and Putin wants to get them back into power.”“There are an awful lot of bandits here,” said Viktoria Ignatova, “and Putin wants to get them back into power.”
Moscow argues that the Ukrainian protests have been taken over by extremists. But on the Maidan there were sharp fears that the revolution was being sold out.Moscow argues that the Ukrainian protests have been taken over by extremists. But on the Maidan there were sharp fears that the revolution was being sold out.
Activists were unhappy with the roster of veteran politicians who were being mentioned for top posts in a new government. And one very familiar face was missing Tuesday – the giant poster with a portrait of Yulia Tymoshenko, the former prime minister and arch-foe of Yanukovych, had been taken down. Activists were unhappy with the roster of veteran politicians who were being mentioned for top posts in a new government. And one very familiar face was missing Tuesday — the giant poster with a portrait of Yulia Tymoshenko, the former prime minister and arch-foe of Yanukovych, had been taken down.
Her release from prison Saturday had turned her into a player again, instead of a cause, and she is no longer a uniting factor among what until a few days ago was the opposition. Her party, in any case, said she will go to Germany for medical treatment.Her release from prison Saturday had turned her into a player again, instead of a cause, and she is no longer a uniting factor among what until a few days ago was the opposition. Her party, in any case, said she will go to Germany for medical treatment.
“We need totally new people,” said Yaroslav Kazmyrchuk, 70, who described himself as a pensioner and a revolutionary.“We need totally new people,” said Yaroslav Kazmyrchuk, 70, who described himself as a pensioner and a revolutionary.
A Maidan council has been established by a group of prominent activists to consult on ministerial choices. It wants to veto any candidate who is rich, who worked for Yanukovych, or who was involved in human rights abuses.A Maidan council has been established by a group of prominent activists to consult on ministerial choices. It wants to veto any candidate who is rich, who worked for Yanukovych, or who was involved in human rights abuses.
The Maidan had a full crowd Tuesday, as Kievans laid flowers at shrines to the dead built from stacked paving stones, and snapped photos of the barricades of rubble that had held back the police. Kazmyrchuk said the camp protest there would continue until it was clear that all the “bandits” would be removed from power. The Maidan had a full crowd Tuesday, as Kievans laid flowers at shrines to the dead built from stacked paving stones and snapped photos of the barricades of rubble that had held back the police. More than 80 people were killed in the violence last week as police cracked down on the demonstrators.
Kazmyrchuk said the camp protest there would continue until it was clear that all the “bandits” would be removed from power.
There was still no conclusive word Tuesday on the whereabouts of Yanukovych, a day after the authorities here announced a nationwide manhunt for him on murder charges.There was still no conclusive word Tuesday on the whereabouts of Yanukovych, a day after the authorities here announced a nationwide manhunt for him on murder charges.
But a top aide, Andriy Kluyev, who was thought to have been with Yanukovych, was reported by his press secretary to have been shot and wounded – where and when were not clear. But a top aide, Andriy Kluyev, who was thought to have been with Yanukovych, was reported by his press secretary to have been shot and wounded — where and when were not clear.
While the Rada was putting off a vote on a new government, Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s top foreign policy official, met with the interim leaders and asked for a financial reform plan, which would open the way to E.U. loans. While the parliament was putting off a vote on a new government, Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s top foreign policy official, met with the interim leaders and asked for a financial reform plan, which would open the way to E.U. loans.
Ukraine’s economy is in dire shape, and the new authorities said they have found the government’s coffers almost bare.Ukraine’s economy is in dire shape, and the new authorities said they have found the government’s coffers almost bare.
In Kharkiv, where nationalists seized the local government building over the weekend, an opposing crowd had gathered around a huge statue of Lenin across the main square, to protect it from assault.In Kharkiv, where nationalists seized the local government building over the weekend, an opposing crowd had gathered around a huge statue of Lenin across the main square, to protect it from assault.
The nationalists wear the red arm bands of the right-wing Pravy Sektor movement that was the militant backbone of the Maidan protests. Those defending the Lenin statue flew the black and orange Saint George flag commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.The nationalists wear the red arm bands of the right-wing Pravy Sektor movement that was the militant backbone of the Maidan protests. Those defending the Lenin statue flew the black and orange Saint George flag commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
Neither Mikhail Dobkin, the governor of Kharkov region, who said he would run in the presidential election in May, nor his deputy, Valentin Dulub, has been seen since the weekend.Neither Mikhail Dobkin, the governor of Kharkov region, who said he would run in the presidential election in May, nor his deputy, Valentin Dulub, has been seen since the weekend.
Yet local government employees continue to show up for work, picking their way through the motley crowds roaming the ground floor of the building on their way to their offices.Yet local government employees continue to show up for work, picking their way through the motley crowds roaming the ground floor of the building on their way to their offices.
All over Ukraine, in fact, the wheels kept turning. The Daily Bulletin of the Council of Ministers was published as usual Tuesday, even if there aren’t any government ministers at the moment. It contained a few nods to the crisis but also announced the construction of 743 locomotives last month, a new transport agreement with Turkey, a plan to build a bridge across the Dnieper River next year, and a 5.3 percent increase in natural gas extraction.All over Ukraine, in fact, the wheels kept turning. The Daily Bulletin of the Council of Ministers was published as usual Tuesday, even if there aren’t any government ministers at the moment. It contained a few nods to the crisis but also announced the construction of 743 locomotives last month, a new transport agreement with Turkey, a plan to build a bridge across the Dnieper River next year, and a 5.3 percent increase in natural gas extraction.
There’s a vast bureaucracy in Ukraine, and it would take more than the overthrow of a president to bring it to a halt. Ukraine has a vast bureaucracy, and it would take more than the overthrow of a president to bring it to a halt.
Isabel Gorst contributed from Kharkiv.Isabel Gorst contributed from Kharkiv.