15:15
10.3.2014
Ukraine's UNIAN news agency is reporting that another activist has been kidnapped in Crimea.
Ihor Kyryushchenko, the regional head of Ukrainian Republican party and an outspoken opponent of Russia's Crimea takeover, was last heard from early Monday afternoon, when he called his party office in Sevastopol, saying, "Farewell. They've come for me." Calls to his phone have since gone unanswered.
Kyryushchenko's apparent abduction comes a day after he participated in demonstrations marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko. He also actively supported Ukrainian soldiers serving on military bases that have been occupied by pro-Russian forces.
At least five other activists and journalists have gone missing in recent days, including Andriy Shchekun, the head of Crimea's Ukrainian Council and a co-organizer of Sunday protests against the Russian occupation.
UNIAN reports that his wife, Lyudmyla, has managed to contact one of the hostage-takers, who reported that Kyryushchenko, who has severe asthma and suffered a heart attack two years ago, was being properly cared for. Kyryushchenko, together with a second activist, Anatolyy Kovalskiy, was abducted Sunday at the train station in Simferopol. Their current location is unknown.
Ihor Kyryushchenko, the regional head of Ukrainian Republican party and an outspoken opponent of Russia's Crimea takeover, was last heard from early Monday afternoon, when he called his party office in Sevastopol, saying, "Farewell. They've come for me." Calls to his phone have since gone unanswered.
Kyryushchenko's apparent abduction comes a day after he participated in demonstrations marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko. He also actively supported Ukrainian soldiers serving on military bases that have been occupied by pro-Russian forces.
At least five other activists and journalists have gone missing in recent days, including Andriy Shchekun, the head of Crimea's Ukrainian Council and a co-organizer of Sunday protests against the Russian occupation.
UNIAN reports that his wife, Lyudmyla, has managed to contact one of the hostage-takers, who reported that Kyryushchenko, who has severe asthma and suffered a heart attack two years ago, was being properly cared for. Kyryushchenko, together with a second activist, Anatolyy Kovalskiy, was abducted Sunday at the train station in Simferopol. Their current location is unknown.
14:45
10.3.2014
EU imports of Russian gas - great map from @ReutersGraphics #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/1pBaWJmIaV
— Pierre Briançon (@pierrebri) March 10, 2014
14:33
10.3.2014
Oksana Grytsenko of the "Kyiv Post" reports that pro-Russian forces have taken over Ukraine's main military hospital in Simferopol today. Forces threatened staff and patients, many of them Ukrainian soldiers.
14:27
10.3.2014
This video from RFE/RL's Ukraine Service in Kharkiv shows just how few people it takes to run a press conference off the rails. Several journalists were denied entrance to Vitali Klitschko's presser today.
Afterwards, Klitschko was reportedly pelted with eggs by residents who support a referendum on the region's status.
Afterwards, Klitschko was reportedly pelted with eggs by residents who support a referendum on the region's status.
#УДАР:На мітингу у Харкові "спортивні туристи" кидали яйця і взривпакети. Міліція спостерігала http://t.co/KRam4EW2ZB pic.twitter.com/p0RtWpQTg4
— УДАР Віталія Кличка (@udarKlichko) March 10, 2014
13:44
10.3.2014
Meanwhile in Prague, some wry commentary has been appearing on the city's street signs:
Someone has changed the signs for Prague's Krymská street — Crimea — to Ruská, or Russia. With a question mark. pic.twitter.com/pLC620O1qy
— Evan Rail (@evanrail) March 9, 2014
13:30
10.3.2014
Former Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky spoke yesterday at Kyiv's Independence Square. Watch a video here:
Today he spoke to a group of students in Kyivand said that Moscow's actions in eastern Ukraine are ruining the traditionally friendly ties between the two peoples. From the wires:
Today he spoke to a group of students in Kyivand said that Moscow's actions in eastern Ukraine are ruining the traditionally friendly ties between the two peoples. From the wires:
Khodorkovsky expressed support for the new Ukrainian government, saying a "revolution of justice" had brought it to power.
He said "Ukraine must become a European state." For that to happen, he said, there must be foreign investment, eradication of corruption, and international assistance.
Khodorkovsky on Sunday addressed thousands on Kyiv's Independence Square, saying "Russian propaganda lies as always" and blaming Russian officials for fabricating stories about fascists and Nazis taking advantage of the situation in Ukraine.
He said there are people in Russia who oppose the occupation of Crimea. The former Yukos oil chief was arrested in 2003 and imprisoned on tax evasion and other charges. He was amnestied in December.
He said "Ukraine must become a European state." For that to happen, he said, there must be foreign investment, eradication of corruption, and international assistance.
Khodorkovsky on Sunday addressed thousands on Kyiv's Independence Square, saying "Russian propaganda lies as always" and blaming Russian officials for fabricating stories about fascists and Nazis taking advantage of the situation in Ukraine.
He said there are people in Russia who oppose the occupation of Crimea. The former Yukos oil chief was arrested in 2003 and imprisoned on tax evasion and other charges. He was amnestied in December.
13:26
10.3.2014
RFE/RL correspondent Rikard Jozwiak is covering the diplomatic front from Brussels:
Tomorrow: EU ambassadors will start to debate sanctions on #Russia & EU Commission decides to liberalize trade with #Ukraine
— Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) March 10, 2014
13:24
10.3.2014
Russia's Foreign Ministry has weighed in again and expressed concern at what it terms the "lawlessness" affecting Russians and Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine.
The ministry's statement Monday cited an incident in Kharkiv on Saturday, during which it says masked men linked to the ultranationalist Right Sector group -- in "connivance" with the new government in Kyiv -- opened fire on peaceful protesters.
Kharkiv police acknowledged a minor incident but said the only link to Right Sector came from an anonymous phone call.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also complained that police in Dnepropetrovsk had detained seven Russian journalists.
The ministry's statement expressed "surprise at the shameful silence of our Western partners, rights organizations, and foreign media" over the incidents.
Ukraine's government and Western leaders accuse Moscow of distorting the facts to portray protesters who toppled President Viktor Yanukovich as violent extremists.
Kharkiv police acknowledged a minor incident but said the only link to Right Sector came from an anonymous phone call.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also complained that police in Dnepropetrovsk had detained seven Russian journalists.
The ministry's statement expressed "surprise at the shameful silence of our Western partners, rights organizations, and foreign media" over the incidents.
Ukraine's government and Western leaders accuse Moscow of distorting the facts to portray protesters who toppled President Viktor Yanukovich as violent extremists.
13:24
10.3.2014
Deutsche Welle, citing a statement by the Polish Defense Ministry, reports that the United States is moving 12 F-16 fighters and 300 military personnel to Poland. The deployment is ahead of scheduled U.S.-Polish maneuvers starting March 13. Polish officials, however, say plans have been expanded and sped up "due to the tense political situation." The U.S. moved six F-15 fighters to Lithuania last week, where officials said the move was due to "Russian aggression in Ukraine and increased military activity in Kaliningrad."
13:05
10.3.2014
Ukrainian news sites like LB.ua now promoting this graphic. Q: Why has the speaker of the Crimean Parliament Vladimir Konstantinov become such a zealous separatist? A: He owes more than $130 million to Ukrainian banks.
Компании крымского спикера задолжали банкам более миллиарда гривен - http://t.co/1hppTLGSav pic.twitter.com/BDhpH5jrLo
— Левый Берег LB.ua (@lb_ua) March 10, 2014