Protests in Kiev

[BlueHammer85]

At least 70 protesters are reportedly killed near Independence Square, where snipers have been seen aiming at the crowds

Truce shattered within hours.

Police have fired into crowds

The White House has said it is "outraged" at images of security forces "firing automatic weapons on their own people".

Mr Hague said the Ukraine government's actions were "utterly indefensible"

The interior ministry claims 67 police officers have captured by protesters in Kiev

Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko has called on people to "Unite to protect your life, health and property. We must stop the bloodshed"

 

[Plaything of the gods]

Git yerself over there Mark!

Ukraine: far-right extremists at core of 'democracy' protest - from Friday 24 January 2014!

As violent scenes play out on the streets of Kiev, we look at the major role extremist right-wing movements have played in Ukraine's "pro-democracy" movement.

[video report]

Ukraine's far-right is gaining support and confidence through its role in the street protests, with the Svoboda party assuming a leading role in the movement and paramilitary groups leading the street fighting.

In December US senator John McCain travelled to Ukraine to offer his support to the opposition, appearing on stage with leaders of the three opposition parties leading the protests - including the far-right Svoboda party.

Svoboda is currently Ukraine's fourth biggest party and holds 36 seats in parliament. It is also part of the Alliance of European National Movements, along with the BNP and Hungary's Jobbik.

Svoboda leader Oleh Tyahnybok is one of the faces of the protests, appearing regularly along with opposition leader and former boxer Vitali Klitschko (see picture right) voicing opposition to Putin's influence over the region.

However, Tyahnybok has provoked controversy in the past with his anti-Semitic claims that a "Moscow-Jewish mafia" controls Ukraine.

[bigimg]http://www.channel4.com/media/images/Channel4/c4-news/2014/January/24/24_Svobod_r_w_LRG.jpg[/bigimg]

His party was registered in 1995 and initially used a swastika-style "wolfsangel" rune as its logo. It restricted membership to ethnic Ukrainians. Until 2004 it had a paramilitary wing called Patriots of Ukraine, and though it ended its link to the group in 2005, the two continue to be closely associated and to participate in protests together.

Continues...

So just who are the EU, UK and USA supporting?

 

[Chancy Termites]

I'm yet to hear the BBC mention that Yanukovich was democratically elected. In fact, the inference from a lot of their recent reporting is that he wasn't.

 

[scotty123]

Splits are now appearing in the political infrastructure of the Ukraine, the west of the country are looking towards Europe while the East and some of the South are looking to Russia, the lines are being drawn, could be another Balkans here

 

[johnny on the spot]

Wizard spotted during protests:

And wtf is this article from the Beeb doing talking up Ukraine as a World War 3 flashpoint?:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-26271024" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-26271024</a>

 

[scotty123]

Wizard spotted during protests:

And wtf is this article from the Beeb doing talking up Ukraine as a World War 3 flashpoint?:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-26271024" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-26271024</a>

What a bizzare article

 

[Ducado]

Splits are now appearing in the political infrastructure of the Ukraine, the west of the country are looking towards Europe while the East and some of the South are looking to Russia, the lines are being drawn, could be another Balkans here

I don't think it will happen, what the Ukraine is short of is a decent constitution, that guarantees the rights of all ethnic groups much like the rest of Europe (Belgium fro example) but what it really needs is for Russia to let go

 

[scotty123]

See the Ukranians of the Crimea are beginning to use the words ''Fascists'' and ''Nazis'' about their fellow Ukranians in Kiev and further West, they just cannot help themselves, prod a Commie with a stick and the words ''Nazi and Fascist'' just comes natural, dearie me

 

[Goaters]

The situation does seem to be getting tenser by the day, as already discussed the Crimea region is like a powder keg at the moment and only a small fuse could ignite things. Russia performing enhanced military ops is surely them flexing their muscles but they would have to be mad to intervene.

Latest article from the BBC:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26366700" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26366700</a>

 

[dazdon]

Another shit-storm in the world that's going to ignite.

What's the best guess solution/outcome for this situation? A country split down the middle?