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| Ukrainian Officials in East Act to Blunt Pro-Russian Forces | |
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| DONETSK, Ukraine — Officials loyal to the new central government in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, have mobilized here in the country’s east to end a pro-Russian protest movement that has called for greater regional autonomy from Kiev and has raised the specter of separatism in the largely Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine. | DONETSK, Ukraine — Officials loyal to the new central government in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, have mobilized here in the country’s east to end a pro-Russian protest movement that has called for greater regional autonomy from Kiev and has raised the specter of separatism in the largely Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine. |
| In his first public remarks, Sergey A. Taruta, a metals magnate who was appointed governor of the Donetsk region on Sunday, condemned a series of recent pro-Russian demonstrations led by Pavel Gubarev, the founder of a local militia who had declared himself “the people’s governor,” and called for unity between eastern and western Ukraine. | In his first public remarks, Sergey A. Taruta, a metals magnate who was appointed governor of the Donetsk region on Sunday, condemned a series of recent pro-Russian demonstrations led by Pavel Gubarev, the founder of a local militia who had declared himself “the people’s governor,” and called for unity between eastern and western Ukraine. |
| “We are for peace,” Mr. Taruta, the chairman of the Industrial Union of Donbass, said at a meeting of the Donetsk public council in a university lecture hall on Friday. “We are now working so that the radical elements that are calling for divisive actions will be stopped decisively.” | “We are for peace,” Mr. Taruta, the chairman of the Industrial Union of Donbass, said at a meeting of the Donetsk public council in a university lecture hall on Friday. “We are now working so that the radical elements that are calling for divisive actions will be stopped decisively.” |
| Mr. Taruta’s remarks seemed to signify the end of a period of protracted political inertia here, during which local politicians and police officers seemed unable or unwilling to stop crowds in the thousands led by Mr. Gubarev from seizing regional government buildings. | Mr. Taruta’s remarks seemed to signify the end of a period of protracted political inertia here, during which local politicians and police officers seemed unable or unwilling to stop crowds in the thousands led by Mr. Gubarev from seizing regional government buildings. |
| The city police only began to respond on Thursday, five days after the demonstrations started, detaining more than 70 people as officers raided a regional administration building occupied by the protesters. Toward evening, the Ukrainian Security Service arrested Mr. Gubarev, the movement’s most visible leader, and hustled him on to a flight to Kiev, where he will be questioned as part of an investigation into the raids. | The city police only began to respond on Thursday, five days after the demonstrations started, detaining more than 70 people as officers raided a regional administration building occupied by the protesters. Toward evening, the Ukrainian Security Service arrested Mr. Gubarev, the movement’s most visible leader, and hustled him on to a flight to Kiev, where he will be questioned as part of an investigation into the raids. |
| On Friday, Mr. Taruta announced that the regional government had banned protests near government buildings. Along with Oleksandr V. Turchynov, the acting president, Mr. Taruta appointed a new police commander, prosecutor and Security Service chief for the Donetsk region, replacing officials who had avoided direct clashes with Mr. Gubarev’s supporters. | On Friday, Mr. Taruta announced that the regional government had banned protests near government buildings. Along with Oleksandr V. Turchynov, the acting president, Mr. Taruta appointed a new police commander, prosecutor and Security Service chief for the Donetsk region, replacing officials who had avoided direct clashes with Mr. Gubarev’s supporters. |
| The arrests and new appointments are likely to increase Kiev’s control here and help avert a situation similar to the one taking place in Crimea, where a hastily elected pro-Russian Parliament will hold a referendum next week on greater autonomy and possible secession from Ukraine. | The arrests and new appointments are likely to increase Kiev’s control here and help avert a situation similar to the one taking place in Crimea, where a hastily elected pro-Russian Parliament will hold a referendum next week on greater autonomy and possible secession from Ukraine. |
| Donetsk, the largest city in the coal-producing Donbass region and the political base of the deposed President Viktor F. Yanukovych, has been seen as a potential problem spot for the weak central government in Kiev. | Donetsk, the largest city in the coal-producing Donbass region and the political base of the deposed President Viktor F. Yanukovych, has been seen as a potential problem spot for the weak central government in Kiev. |
| The city was one of 11 in the east and south of Ukraine to erupt in protests last week against Kiev that have been fueled by economic grievances and fears about the new government in the capital, which some here believe will persecute ethnic Russians in the region. The protests have also been bolstered by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who said that Russia could intervene militarily here if the lives of ethnic Russians were threatened. | The city was one of 11 in the east and south of Ukraine to erupt in protests last week against Kiev that have been fueled by economic grievances and fears about the new government in the capital, which some here believe will persecute ethnic Russians in the region. The protests have also been bolstered by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who said that Russia could intervene militarily here if the lives of ethnic Russians were threatened. |
| “People are scared; people are alarmed,” Sergey V. Bogachev, the secretary of the Donetsk City Council, which had called for a referendum on greater independence from Kiev, said in an interview before Mr. Gubarev’s arrest. “Mr. Gubarev has violated the law, indeed. But look how many people have come out to support him.” | “People are scared; people are alarmed,” Sergey V. Bogachev, the secretary of the Donetsk City Council, which had called for a referendum on greater independence from Kiev, said in an interview before Mr. Gubarev’s arrest. “Mr. Gubarev has violated the law, indeed. But look how many people have come out to support him.” |
| Since Mr. Gubarev’s arrest, however, protests for greater ties with Russia have gotten smaller, and a pro-Russian rally on Friday in the city center attracted only several hundred supporters. Mr. Gubarev’s allies, denouncing his arrest, have called for another demonstration on Saturday. | Since Mr. Gubarev’s arrest, however, protests for greater ties with Russia have gotten smaller, and a pro-Russian rally on Friday in the city center attracted only several hundred supporters. Mr. Gubarev’s allies, denouncing his arrest, have called for another demonstration on Saturday. |
| Mr. Taruta, who was sent by Kiev as one of several pro-government businessmen appointed to lead regions in the country’s east, tried on Friday to act as a cultural envoy for the new government and dispel fears of a political campaign to marginalize the ethnic Russian population of the east. | Mr. Taruta, who was sent by Kiev as one of several pro-government businessmen appointed to lead regions in the country’s east, tried on Friday to act as a cultural envoy for the new government and dispel fears of a political campaign to marginalize the ethnic Russian population of the east. |
| “If you think these are anyone’s actual political beliefs, then I must disappoint you,” he said. “These are all just scripts and stories designed to frighten the east of Ukraine.” | “If you think these are anyone’s actual political beliefs, then I must disappoint you,” he said. “These are all just scripts and stories designed to frighten the east of Ukraine.” |