Rally in central Kiev demands changes in Ukraine’s system of power
A rally, which is being held on Sunday in Kiev’s central Independence Square, known as Maidan, have supported the idea of the UDAR party leader, Vitali Klitschko, who is winning mayoral elections in Kiev, to hold early elections to Ukraine’s parliament.
“Maidan has done what it was to do - the dictator has been ousted and the country has held democratic elections of the president,” Klitschko said, addressing several thousands of activists who gathered in the square.
Activists who took the floor after Klitschko called on those present not to leave the square.
“We have been here to change the system of power. But we see no changes so far. Maidan must stand firm until the goal is achieved,” they said.
Participants in a rally decided to continue their actions until all their demands were satisfied, according to a manifesto adopted by the Maidan activists.
“Maidan will be there until all its demands are satisfied,” the manifesto said.
“Our demands are punishment to criminals, lustration, a package of laws to change the system of power, re-establishment of the constitutional system in a number of communities, and punishment to those responsible for the deaths and tortures of activists.”
The manifesto called for “structural changes in the Maidan,” and a “system of the dialogue with the authorities.” It also called to establish municipal police from among Maidan activists.
Source: http://en.itar-tass.com/world/734238
Klitschko says he has never thought of dispersing Maidan
He also spoke for the soonest stabilization of the situation in Ukraine’s southeastern regions.
Leader of the UDAR party Vitali Klitschko, who is winning the mayoral elections in Ukraine’s capital city Kiev, said on Sunday he had never thought it admissible to disperse protesters in the centre of the city.
“They were fighting for their future. Today, someone is saying the Maidan [the term was coined after Kiev’s central Independence Square, or Maidan Nezlaezhnosti, the venue of ongoing mass protests since November 2013] is to be dispersed. I have never thought it is a good idea - neither back then, nor today,” he told the Inter television channel.
He said that now that a new president had been elected in Ukraine, and a new mayor had been elected in Kiev, the city “is to gradually return to the normal life, setting an example for the entire Ukraine.” “We must ensure normal functioning of the city, its streets and mayor’s office. Kiev’s authorities must return to their building,” he said.
He also spoke for the soonest stabilization of the situation in Ukraine’s southeastern regions. “We will not be able to build our future without stabilization,” he stressed.
“I am sure that the next step is to be early election to the parliament. People should voice their opinion of the political forces,” he said, adding that the current parliament’s unprofessionalism “killed people’s confidence to the parliament.”
Earlier on Sunday, KLitschko took part in a rally Kiev’s Independence Square. “Maidan has done what it was to do - the dictator has been ousted and the country has held democratic elections of the president,” Klitschko said, addressing several thousands of activists who gathered in the square.
Activists who took the floor after Klitscko called on those present not to leave the square. “We have been here to change the system of power. But we see no changes so far. Maidan must stand firm until the goal is achieved,” they said.
Source: http://en.itar-tass.com/world/734269
Russia-NATO Council to consider situation in Ukraine at ambassadorial level
The latest RNC session was held in Brussels on March 5
A session of the Russia-NATO Council (RNC) session on the situation in Ukraine is to be held here on Monday. On the eve of the ambassadorial-level conference suggested by the Russian side, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen confirmed the fact of withdrawal of "approximately two-thirds of Russian troops" from the border with Ukraine.
Following Crimea's re-unification with the Russian Federation, the North Atlantic Alliance announced suspension of the entire scope of cooperation with Russia and then also suspended all technical expert contacts, with the exception of RNC sessions held for the sake of "maintaining the dialogue".
The latest RNC session was held in Brussels on March 5. At the session, the countries of the Alliance virtually refused to listen to Russia's arguments. Alexander Grushko, Permanent Representative of Russia at NATO, sad at the close of the session, "We were disappointed with the results of the session". He said the meeting turned into "the reading out of national statements".
In the situation regarding Ukraine's crisis, the North Atlantic Alliance, which states a resolute support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, decided against directly intervening in the situation in the republic while starting to take measures to enhance the collective defense of the Eastern European members of the Alliance in the air, at sea, and on land.
Source: http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/734278
Donetsk authorities plan to evacuate another group of children from Slavyansk to Russia
The authorities of the newly-formed Donetsk People’s Republic plan to evacuate to Russia later on Sunday another group of children from the town of Slavyansk, which is surrounded by the Ukrainian forces, the press service of the republic told Itar-Tass.
“Children will evacuated in one or two busses, which will go firth to Donetsk and then to Russia, where the children will be accommodated at summer camps and holiday centres,” the press service said.
Earlier, several dozens of children were evacuated from Slavyansk. The Ukrainian law enforcers however stopped one of such groups at a Slavyansk suburb not letting it out.
Source: http://en.itar-tass.com/world/734246
Six killed as self-defense forces come under attack at Donetsk airport
Ukrainian army fired at an ambulance and self-defense fighters, the press office of the Donetsk People’s Republic said
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Six self-defense fighters were killed as they attempted to take away the bodies of volunteer guards shot down by the Ukrainian military near Donetsk international airport over the week, the press office of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic said on Sunday.
“During an attempt to take away the bodies of self-defense militiamen, the Ukrainian army fired at an ambulance and self-defense fighters, killing six people,” the press office of the Donetsk People’s Republic said.
The leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic are going to turn to the Red Cross humanitarian institution with a request to help remove the bodies from the territory adjacent to the airport, the press office said.
Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic Alexander Borodai earlier said that about 60 self-defense forces and around 20 civilians had been killed in battles with the Ukrainian military near the Donetsk international airport.
Borodai said there were snipers near the airport controlled by the Ukrainian law-enforcers.
“Civilians continue to be killed every day. No one can give exact figures because access to the airport area is now impossible. We still can’t take away all the bodies and give the exact figure of how many people were killed,” Borodai said.
Ukraine has been in turmoil since a coup occurred in the country in February and President Viktor Yanukovych had to leave it for security reasons.
Massive protests against the coup-imposed Ukrainian authorities erupted in Ukraine’s southeastern territories, mainly the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Demonstrators in the Southeast have been demanding Ukraine’s federalization.
A punitive operation by Kiev against federalization supporters has already claimed dozens of lives. The Donetsk and Lugansk regions held referendums on May 11, in which most voters supported independence from Ukraine.
Source: http://en.itar-tass.com/world/734247
Five civilians wounded in artillery shelling on Slavyansk by Ukrainian troops
The town is having problems with mobile communications
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Five civilians were wounded as the Ukrainian military opened artillery fire at town of Slavyansk in Ukraine’s southeastern Donetsk regions, a representative of Slavyansk’s voluntary corps told Itar-Tass on Sunday.
According to the representative, fire was opened at the enterprises Stroimash and Slavtyazhmash. Apart from that, the town is having problems with mobile communications. There are problems with the internet in some of the town’s districts.
On Saturday, according to the voluntary corps representative, patients were evacuated from Slavyansk’s central clinic.
“They were taken to a district hospital in Nikolayevka some 18 kilometress off Slavyansk,” he said. “But some of the clinic’s personnel remained in Slavyansk, since wounded people are taken here every day.”
On Saturday, the town and its suburb Semyonovka came under fire.
Source: http://en.itar-tass.com/world/734255
Ukrainian army opens mortar fire at Slavyansk
Artillery shelling damaged the buildings of the Sails of Hope children’s home and the research institute, a spokesman for Slavyansk’s self-defence volunteer corps said
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Ukraine’s troops have begun mortar shelling of Slavyansk suburbs, a spokesman for Slavyansk’s self-defence volunteer corps told Itar-Tass on Sunday. “Shelling became heavier after dark. They are using mortars and firearms,” he said.
Artillery shelling damaged the buildings of the Sails of Hope children’s home and the research institute, he added. According to the spokesman, a shell hit one of the walls of the children’s home.
“There were no children inside at the moment of shelling - they were evacuated from the town last week,” the spokesman said. As for the research institute, a mine exploded in front of the building breaking all the windows. Apart from that the shelling destroyed trolleybus power lines.
On Sunday evening, shooting was heard in the vicinity of Slavyansk, which is surrounded by the Ukrainian army. “There was a skirmish. No details are available. We are checking who was shooting and from where. Sporadic shooting is heard in the town,” a representative of volunteer corps said.
Earlier on Sunday, five civilians were reported to be wounded as the town came under artillery shelling. As of yet, according to the spokesman, it is impossible to establish the area from where shelling is done. Shooting and explosions are heard in the town. A fighter is reportedly flying over the town.
According to reports coming from Slavyansk, the town is having problems with mobile communications. There are problems with the internet in some of the town’s districts. On Saturday, the town and its suburb Semyonovka came under fire.
Source: http://en.itar-tass.com/world/734264
Rally in defence of children of Ukraine’s southeast held in Donetsk
Participants carried slogans “Save the Children of Donbass!”
Several hundreds of people gathered here for a rally demanding protection for their children against violent actions by the Ukrainian authorities on Sunday, the International Children’s Day, a spokesman for the newly formed Donetsk People’s Republic told Itar-Tass.
Participants carried slogans “Save the Children of Donbass!” [Donbass in the name of a coal-bearing area comprising Ukraine’s southeastern Donetsk region], “The Slavic World without Fascism,” “Protect the Children of Donbass against the Ukrainian Army.”
Earlier on Sunday, the press service of the republic told Itar-Tass that the authorities of the Donetsk People’s Republic planned to evacuate to Russia another group of children from the town of Slavyansk, which is surrounded by the Ukrainian forces. “Children will evacuated in one or two busses, which will go firth to Donetsk and then to Russia, where the children will be accommodated at summer camps and holiday centres,” the press service said.
Several dozens of children have already been evacuated from the area where the Ukrainian authorities are carrying out a punitive operation. The Ukrainian law enforcers however stopped one of such groups at a Slavyansk suburb not letting it out of the town.
Source: http://en.itar-tass.com/world/734268