12:15
26.2.2014
BREAKING: Scuffles as thousands of pro- and anti-Russian crowds protest in #Ukraine's Crimea http://t.co/QmpAlCZkT3 pic.twitter.com/OddpQKK7qC
— RT (@RT_com) February 26, 2014
12:25
26.2.2014
Espreso TV has a good feed of the Crimean Tatar demo in Simferopol.
Pro-Kiev Crimean tartar demo facing off against pro-Russian demo in Simferopol. What could possibly go wrong? Live: https://t.co/nLJOIZODHg
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 26, 2014
12:28
26.2.2014
With things heating up in Crimea, three former Ukrainian presidents have accused Russia of meddling in the republic. From UNIAN and Interfax:
Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma, and Viktor Yushchenko, in a joint statement on Wednesday, accused Russia of "direct interference in the political life in Crimea."
The three former presidents warned against "dangerous recipes" proposed by some politicians and said law-enforcement agencies should look into separatist calls, allegations about violations of the rights of the Russian-speaking population, as well as the "fomenting of hostility" between Ukraine's regions and cases of "open disrespect of Ukraine's state symbols."
Pro-Russian activists have held rallies in Crimea following President Viktor Yanukovych's ouster, raising the Russian flag on government buildings.
The three former presidents warned against "dangerous recipes" proposed by some politicians and said law-enforcement agencies should look into separatist calls, allegations about violations of the rights of the Russian-speaking population, as well as the "fomenting of hostility" between Ukraine's regions and cases of "open disrespect of Ukraine's state symbols."
Pro-Russian activists have held rallies in Crimea following President Viktor Yanukovych's ouster, raising the Russian flag on government buildings.
12:59
26.2.2014
#Ukraine's #hryvnia is sliding fast. Emergency funds needed quick to stop disastrous disorderly devaluation. pic.twitter.com/pkCZR8TSCC
— The EIU EEurope Team (@TheEIU_EEurope) February 26, 2014
13:00
26.2.2014
"Putin is a dictator", screaming 10K pro-Ukraine Tatars at the building of Crimea parl, 1K of ethnic Russians are noticably enraged
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) February 26, 2014
13:18
26.2.2014
There has been plenty of reporting about the lavish and gaudy mansions of the former Ukrainian leadership. But "The New York Times" has a piece looking at the fate of one unfinished palace, which was being built for Yanukovych. Now the builders have picked up their tools and gone home.
Chased from his sumptuous villa outside the Ukrainian capital and last sighted searching for a sanctuary here on the Crimean Peninsula, Viktor F. Yanukovych, the former president, suffered a final indignity on Tuesday: The masons and electricians he had hired to build a Pharaonic seaside retreat in a historic, old-growth forest decided that he would never pay his bills and started hauling away their equipment and materials.
One of the contractors picking up his materials on Tuesday, who gave his name only as Sergei, said he had not received any formal instructions to stop work, but, “We watch television so we can see what is happening and that we are not going to get paid.”
One of the contractors picking up his materials on Tuesday, who gave his name only as Sergei, said he had not received any formal instructions to stop work, but, “We watch television so we can see what is happening and that we are not going to get paid.”
13:29
26.2.2014
Removing #Ukraine parliament gates may be a gesture at welcoming people in, just wondering whether they'll regret it pic.twitter.com/YFeIYaGlYb
— Dan Peleschuk (@dpeleschuk) February 26, 2014
13:29
26.2.2014
From the wires:
President Vladimir Putin has ordered an urgent drill to test the combat readiness of the armed forces in central and western Russia.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted as saying that Putin ordered the test at 1400 Moscow time (eds: 1100 Prague time) on Wednesday.
The drills come as tensions continue in Ukraine, Russia's western neighbor, following the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted as saying that Putin ordered the test at 1400 Moscow time (eds: 1100 Prague time) on Wednesday.
The drills come as tensions continue in Ukraine, Russia's western neighbor, following the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych.
14:27
26.2.2014
From our Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has warned that all countries should respect Ukraine's territorial integrity:
Speaking ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Rasmussen said NATO takes it for granted that all nations should respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
He added that this was a message the he had conveyed "to whom it may concern." He did not mention Russia explicitly.
Rasmussen added that it is for Kyiv to decide whether it wants to become a member of NATO but stressed that the decision from the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008 that Ukraine can join the organization still stands.
He noted, however, that this question isn't among the most urgent facing of the new Ukrainian leadership.
He said he was encouraged that violence in Ukraine had been stopped "through negotiations."
He added that this was a message the he had conveyed "to whom it may concern." He did not mention Russia explicitly.
Rasmussen added that it is for Kyiv to decide whether it wants to become a member of NATO but stressed that the decision from the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008 that Ukraine can join the organization still stands.
He noted, however, that this question isn't among the most urgent facing of the new Ukrainian leadership.
He said he was encouraged that violence in Ukraine had been stopped "through negotiations."
14:29
26.2.2014
More details on the Russian military drills:
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in televised comments made at a meeting of top military officials in Moscow that the exercise in Russia's western and central military districts is intended to "check the troops' readiness for action in crisis situations that threaten the nation's military security."
He said Putin had ordered the exercise Wednesday afternoon. The drills will last until March 3.
Shoigu's statement did not contain any reference to the unrest in Ukraine, which borders Russia's western military district.
He said Putin had ordered the exercise Wednesday afternoon. The drills will last until March 3.
Shoigu's statement did not contain any reference to the unrest in Ukraine, which borders Russia's western military district.