Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
UKRAINE’S ACTING INTERIOR minister has confirmed that he’s disbanded the elite Berkut riot police, which protesters blamed for most of the deaths in last week’s carnage in Kiev that claimed nearly 100 lives.
“The Berkut is no more,” acting interior minister Arsen Avakov wrote on his Facebook account.
“I have signed Decree No. 144, dated February 25, 2014 on the dissolution of the Berkut special police units of civil defence.”
[Image: Arsen Avakov]
World powers are seeking to ease tensions over Ukraine, as the country’s interim authorities grapple with the threat of economic collapse and separatism after the dramatic ousting of pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych at the weekend.
Russia yesterday softened its angry tone over the sudden, weekend regime change in Ukraine, while senior EU and US diplomats visited the ex-Soviet country.
Frantic talks took place between US, European and Russian diplomats as Ukraine appealed for €25 billion in aid to avoid bankruptcy and interim president Oleksandr Turchynov warned of a secessionist threat.
The European Union said it stands ready to give conditional financial assistance to Ukraine.
“In several regions of Ukraine there are very dangerous signs of separatism,” Turchynov told parliament yesterday, voicing fears that the pro-Russia east could push for partition after a pro-Western administration took charge of the country following months of anti-Yanukovych protests.
Mutiny
Russia had initially reacted with fury to the weekend’s rapid-fire political changes — brought about by last week’s clashes that left nearly 100 dead — accusing the new leadership of waging an “armed mutiny”.
But yesterday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sought to soften the tone, saying Ukraine should not be forced to choose between Russia and the West.
“We confirmed our principled position of non-intervention in Ukraine’s internal affairs,” Lavrov said in Moscow.
“We are interested in Ukraine being part of the European family, in all senses of the word,” he said. “It is dangerous and counterproductive to force Ukraine into a choice.”
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also sought to calm tensions during a press conference in Kiev.
“We offer support, not interference for the future,” Ashton told reporters in a bid to downplay claims that the West wants to bring Ukraine into its sphere of influence.
She also stressed “the importance of the strong links between Ukraine and Russia and the importance of having them maintained”.
Ashton however offered no concrete commitments of economic assistance, saying only that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was “very keen” to meet the future new government.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The appointed by “peaceful protesters opposition” minister for Interior Affairs which is a member of OUN decided to disband “Berkut”… soon that ministry will be issuing arrest orders for those who is not in tune with them…
Some info about OUN –
The Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) (Ukrainian: Організація Українських Націоналістів, Orhanizatsiya Ukrayins’kykh Natsionalistiv or ОУН) is a Ukrainian political organization which as a movement originally was created in 1929 in Western Ukraine (at the time interwar Poland). The OUN emerged as a union between the Ukrainian Military Organization, smaller radical right-wing groups, and right-wing Ukrainian nationalists and intellectuals represented by Dmytro Dontsov, Yevhen Konovalets, Mykola Stsyborsky and other figures.[1][nb 1] There are a number of contemporary far-right Ukrainian political organizations who claim to be inheritors of the OUN’s political traditions, including Svoboda, the Ukrainian National Assembly and the Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists.[2][nb 2][3]
The OUN sought to infiltrate legal political parties, universities and other structures, and considered its ideological struggle to be critical; as revolutionary ultra-nationalists the OUN may be considered fascist.[1][2][nb 3] The OUN’s struggle was not merely theoretical however and the means employed by the OUN to achieve Ukrainian independence included violence or terrorism against foreign and domestic enemies, particularly Poland, Czechoslovakia and Russia, which occupied territory inhabited by ethnic Ukrainians.[1] One of the OUN’s stated goals was to protect the Ukrainian population from repression and establish a Ukrainian state.
In 1940, the OUN split into two parts, with the older more moderate members supporting Andriy Melnyk (OUN-M) while the younger and more radical members supporting Stepan Bandera (OUN-B). Both groups were enthusiastically committed to a new fascist Europe.[2][nb 4] The OUN-B came to control the OUN’s Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and declared an independent Ukrainian state in June 1941, under occupation by Axis powers, as a satellite of Nazi Germany.[2] The OUN leadership was suppressed by Nazi authorities, while UPA military units carried out large-scale ethnic cleansing against Polish and Jewish populations.[2] After the war, the UPA resisted Soviet occupation, in which Soviet forces killed, arrested or deported over 500,000 Ukrainians. Many targeted by the Soviets included UPA members, their families or supporters; UPA forces themselves killed 20,000 Ukrainians during their resistance.[2][nb 5]
During the Cold War, the OUN was covertly supported by western intelligence agencies, including the CIA.[2] The role of the OUN remains contested in historiography, as later political inheritors developed a literature denying the organization’s fascist political heritage and collaboration with Nazi Germany, while also celebrating the Waffen – SS Galizien.[2][nb 6][4] On the other hand, some scholars argue that far-right or extreme-right aspects of modern OUN descendants are emphasized by political opponents for electoral purposes.[2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_of_Ukrainian_Nationalists
Ya could at least done a summary
Many people in East and southern Ukraine were shocked to see how many placards with Stefan Bandera’s portrait were displayed during the protests by people wearing swastika similar emblems .. They don’t forget that Bandera collaborated with the Nazis. They thought they had gotten rid of this scourge. Raises many old fears, especially when they see Germanys foreign minister is standing in their midst.
@ Cormac Ryan – Sorry about that:)) here it is – The Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists as revolutionary ultra-nationalists may be considered fascist.
I understand that we are using the freedom of speech, that gives the right to hold opinions without interference” and “everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice
Link where interior minister associates himself? ?
Pavel days ago you said you were giving up commenting on it? ?
Also while there is fascists in Ukraine no doubt. They are small very small as eirigi are here sure jaysus if media over seas were looking at queens visit protests would have thought us communist nuts with queen out posters.
When in truth 90% were delighted with the visit.
But truth is a problem for you http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsen_Avakov_(politician)
He is not a neo nazi
Honestly must hate that free people won out against Russia.
I say its great historical days for Ukraine.
Mind you idiots would have objected to Berlin Wall coming down too or east Germany getting freedom or the CCCP falling apart.
By and large people do want to be free and not live under communism or fascism
@Pavel – on what basis are you linking Arsen Avakov to OUN?
One could argue that yourself and o dwyer are as bad :)
Minority with extreme views trying to over shout everyone else.
Classic “ism” behaviour that itself being fasicim and communism.
More a democratic person myself but where a president whose election was questioned completely goes against will of the people then its time for him to go and now he is. Viva Ukraine. Welcome to the west
@ James O Donoghue : They were not a small minority. They hijacked an otherwise peaceful and rightful demonstration. They attacked Police (,who were just doing their job), for weeks on end with Iron bars, bricks, and firebombs. Occupying government buildings etc. thus provoking a reaction. How long would you have liked to have been in their line of fire. ? Honest answer please. This is certainly not the way to bring about democratic change. It sets a precedent for similar behavior in the future. Look at following clip, and this is mild stuff.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=911_1390295593
@Padraic – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1916_rising
Jaysus must be the families I know there even the granny must be neo nazi terrorists ha ha ha :) actually everyone I know there was supportive of revolution. All of kiev is nazi who would have guessed.
The poor president. Fought the Nazi right was a man of the people. Lived on poverty to show solidarity with his people.
Oh your views are so off wall its kinda entertaining. Carry on :)
Interedting that you say they hijacked a rightful justified protest. Any protest will have extremists but let’s see how the parliament is constructed. Im willing to bet you wont see it full of neo Nazis.
Your right it was rightful protests
Any protest against corruption is justifiable, but can you imagine the headlines if Russian or Chinese foreign ministers or diplomats (or from any other country) took part in protests against corruption in Wall street which robbed hard working American people of billions of dollars. Also you cannot forcefully take over government buildings for months and attack the police with petrol bombs or iron bars. It would not be tolerated.
Any protest against corruption is justifiable, but can you imagine the headlines if Russian or Chinese foreign ministers or diplomats ( or from any other country for that matter ) took part in protests against corruption in Wall street which robbed hard working American people of billions of dollars. Also you cannot forcefully take over government buildings for months and attack the police with petrol bombs or iron bars in Paris or New York. It would not be tolerated.
Seems as bad as Irish politics
Members of Berkut are Heroes!! Glory to them!
We never learn from history. The West stirring the shit in Ukraine while Russian troops on manoeuvres at Ukraine border. I have a very bad feeling about this whole mess.
have your say