Deadliest Day In Ukraine Protests Yet, Despite Truce
Published on Feb 20, 2014
” At least 75 people have been killed in violent riots in Kiev, the Ukrainian Health Department has stated. Doctors working on Kiev’s Independence Square, however, claimed that as many as 70 people were killed on the rioters’ side alone on Thursday. The death toll in the most violent wave of clashes between the rioters and the police in Kiev is likely to increase, as there are conflicting figures coming from the Health Department, city officials and the opposition. As many as 550 people have been injured, according to official estimates. Until this week, snipers shooting people in central Kiev have been little more than unsupported hearsay. But on Thursday, both security forces and rioters were filmed stalking the streets with rifles. RT’s Aleksey Yaroshevsky reports to Meghan Lopez that unidentified snipers were firing from buildings all around Independence Square.
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On the diplomatic side the EU and US are threatening sanctions …
Published on Feb 20, 2014
” The United States, European Union and NATO are criticizing the Ukrainian government for its role in the increasing bloodshed in Kiev. EU leaders have agreed to impose sanctions on the country, joining the US in threatening consequences. Individual sanctions for 20 Ukrainian politicians have already been imposed by Washington. Critics, including The Nation’s contributing editor, Stephen Cohen, say that threats of sanctions and misunderstanding of the situation on the ground are misguided. RT’s Gayane Chichakyan looks at how the US and EU are reacting to the increasing violence in Ukraine.
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Or watch us online: http://rt.com/on-air/rt-america-air/ “
Meanwhile Euromaidan In English provides us with this report on the day’s events in Kiev …
” This is what happened today (please share to inform all):
——————————————Today, after the morning massacres had calmed down a little, opposition politicians began calling for MP’s to gather in Parliament at 3pm. Deputy Lyashko and others pronounced guarantees to Party of Regions MP’s that no demonstrations would be held near the building during this special session – apparently some government MP’s had expressed concern for their own safety in the wake of that morning’s violence and deaths.
The session did not start until around 5pm, and MPs gathered very gradually. Initially, only 227 registered (minimum quorum: 226), but as the evening wore on, more and more MP’s from the Party of Regions and nominal independents arrived. By 10pm, 238 had registered to vote.The key test came just after 10pm when the speeches ceased and a draft document was put to a vote. In the end 236 voted in favor of the “Postanova” that orders the following:
1. All Interior Ministry troops currently in Kyiv are ordered to cease fire and return to barracks.
2. All live ammunition and lethal weapons that have been issued to government forces are to be returned immediately.
3. Blocking roads and rail lines for the purpose of limiting the movement of people is to cease.
4. All anti terrorist operations currently undertaken by the State Security Service and Interior Ministry are to be stopped immediately.
5. Circumstances that have led to deaths and casualties are to be investigated and the guilty brought to trial forthwith by the Prosecutor General.
6. The Cabinet of Ministers is ordered to provide financial compensation to all victims of the recent violence and their families.
7. Activists arrested for their participation in protests are to be released and all criminal cases against them closed.
8. It is now the exclusive right of parliament to declare a state of emergency.All of the above was passed as a “Postanova” – a one time legislative order that has the force of law, but according to Ukraine’s Constitution, and unlike other laws, need not be signed by the President. Postanova’s are signed by the Chairman/Speaker of the Parliament, or in his absence, by one of his Deputies. Tonight’s session of Parliament was chaired by Svoboda MP Koshulynsky, and he has signed the document making it legal.
Two points of significance:
1) Parliamentary Speaker Rybak and First Deputy Speaker Kaletnyk (Communist Party) were not present at tonight’s session; neither were 167 deputies from the Party of Regions, nor any of the Communist MP’s. Nevertheless, a temporary majority was assembled with all members of the 3 opposition parties and most independents in attendance together with 20+ Party of Regions MPs who have now effectively defected from the government camp. According to rumors many Party of Regions MPs left the country today – including (according to some reports) Speaker Rybak.
Does this signal a permanent end to the pro-Yanukovych majority in Parliament? If so, it signifies the beginning of the end of his regime.2) Although a Postanova is a legislative order that has the force of law, and cannot be vetoed by the President, it is unclear what happens if Yanukovych issues a Presidential Decree cancelling the Postanova. Furthermore, it is unclear which should take precedent: the Law on Counter-Terrorism which has been the formal document used to authorize the use of lethal force and abrogation of civil rights during the past 2 days, or the one-time Postanova. Finally is highly unclear whether Interior Ministry forces will obey this Postanova at all.
After passing their document, Ukraine’s 3 opposition leaders immediately left Parliament for the Presidential Administration building where, reportedly, they were joined by 3 visiting EU foreign ministers. Apparently they will attempt to collectively convince Yanukovych to accept the need for constitutional changes – these are to be voted on tomorrow. Whether enough votes can be gathered, and whether Yanukovych will budge are all open questions…
(written by Prof. Mychailo Wynnycky, Kyiv Mohyla Academy)
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#euromaidan “
In other news from Kiev , protestors , after heated debate , pulled down the statue of Lenin and in short order he was broken up for souvenirs .
У Житомирі впав Ленін
Published on Feb 20, 2014
” Близько першої ночі, після тривалого стояння і нетривалої боротьби за п’єдестал, в Житомирі не стало Леніна. Тиран впав під переконливими аргументами місцевого євромайдану.
На вождя накинули троси. Ілліч пручався. Тоді люди вдарили автотранспортом по ідейному лідеру комунізма. Під тиском техніки Ілліч впав і пішов по шматочках на сувеніри. На місті того хто давав наказ армії Муравйова завойовувати Україну замайорів наш прапор. Тепер активісти міркують, хто вартий честі стояти на головній площі міста.”
To round out this evening’s update on Ukrainian news we present this report regarding an alleged conspiracy of sorts as to the “grassroots” nature of the viral video “I Am A Ukranian” and thus the riots themselves .
” As they seize weapons, take over government buildings and fire on media outlets, the US-backed Ukrainian protesters are being afforded legitimacy with the aid of a Kony 2012-style viral video which triumphs the grass roots nature of the demonstrations yet is linked to shadowy NGOs that have been directly involved in staging phony ‘color revolutions’ in the past.
The woman encourages viewers to “help us only by telling this story….only by sharing this video,” thereby framing the debate around the naive narrative that the crisis is solely about Ukrainians wanting “freedom,” and in essence blacklisting the real reasons behind the western-instigated revolt, which focus on the geopolitical isolation of Russia.
The origins of the video are not quite as ‘grass roots’ as is portrayed. The clip was produced by the team behind A Whisper to a Roar, a documentary about the “fight for democracy” all over the world, which was funded by Prince Moulay Hicham of Morocco. The “inspiration” behind the documentary was none other than Larry Diamond, a Council on Foreign Relations member. The Council on Foreign Relations is considered to be America’s “most influential foreign-policy think tank” and has deep connections with the U.S. State Department.
Diamond has also worked closely with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The National Endowment for Democracy is considered to be the CIA’s “civilian arm” and has been deeply embroiled in innumerable instigated uprisings, attempted coups and acts of neo-colonial regime change since its creation in 1983, including the contrived 2004 “Orange Revolution” that brought US puppet Viktor Yushchenko to power in Ukraine. “
Color us unconvinced but read the rest at Red Ice and decide for yourself .
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YouViewed/Editorial 