12:15
18.5.2014
12:13
18.5.2014
From Interfax:
Part of Crimean Tatars plan to hold an unauthorized rally commemorating the victims of the deportation of their people in 1944 near a mosque in the outskirts of Simferopol.
Hundreds of people are heading for the rally carrying flags the family emblem of the dynasty of Crimean khans, an Interfax correspondent reports.
Earlier on Sunday flowers were brought to monuments to the victims of the deportation. People came there in small groups. There were no more than 100 people at a time at the memorial near the railway station in Simferopol.
Part of Crimean Tatars plan to hold an unauthorized rally commemorating the victims of the deportation of their people in 1944 near a mosque in the outskirts of Simferopol.
Hundreds of people are heading for the rally carrying flags the family emblem of the dynasty of Crimean khans, an Interfax correspondent reports.
Earlier on Sunday flowers were brought to monuments to the victims of the deportation. People came there in small groups. There were no more than 100 people at a time at the memorial near the railway station in Simferopol.
12:03
18.5.2014
11:05
18.5.2014
10:40
18.5.2014
10:20
18.5.2014
Our Ukrainian Service is broadcasting live from Simferopol (in Ukrainian):
09:52
18.5.2014
09:51
18.5.2014
20:36
17.5.2014
From our news desk. No surprises that the election next week, in some parts, is going to be hard to organize.
Ukraine's Central Election Commission says it may be impossible to organise next weekend's presidential election in the country's east if the government fails to ensure security in regions overrun by pro-Russian separatists.
The commission said on May 17 that it could not prepare for the vote in parts of the east because of threats and "illegal actions" by the separatists.
It said officials have been unable to start preparing for the May 25 vote in six constituencies in Donetsk region and another six in Luhansk region where the separatists have declared their own independent republics.
It called on acting President Oleksandr Turchynov and the government to take urgent action to ensure security.
Separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk have said they will not allow the May 25 election to take place in their regions.
The commission said on May 17 that it could not prepare for the vote in parts of the east because of threats and "illegal actions" by the separatists.
It said officials have been unable to start preparing for the May 25 vote in six constituencies in Donetsk region and another six in Luhansk region where the separatists have declared their own independent republics.
It called on acting President Oleksandr Turchynov and the government to take urgent action to ensure security.
Separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk have said they will not allow the May 25 election to take place in their regions.
18:37
17.5.2014
Barring major developments, this wraps up our live blogging for May 17, 2014.