Ukraine protests show signs of coup: PM
Iran Press TV
Mon Dec 2, 2013 6:36PM GMT
Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has criticized the ongoing democratic protests in the country, saying they show 'all the signs of a coup'.
"This has all the signs of a coup…. We are patient, but we want our partners not to feel that everything is permitted," Azarov told Western ambassadors during a meeting in Kiev on Monday.
"From a mass protest, this has grown into one that is out of control," Azarov said, adding, "There are absolutely illegal methods being used."
Russian President Vladimir Putin also criticized the street protests as a "pogrom" and not a revolution.
He said the events have more to do with the country's internal political struggles ahead of presidential elections in 2015 and not "with Ukraine's relations with the European Union."
Ukraine has been the scene of violent clashes between police and demonstrators in recent days, with some 1,000 protesters blocking off the government's main headquarters early Monday in the capital, Kiev, calling for the resignation of the prime minister and his cabinet.
On Sunday, some 100 police officers and nearly 50 protesters were injured in clashes as demonstrators stormed the office of Kiev's mayor.
This is while, European Union chair, Lithuania, summoned the Ukrainian envoy on Monday, demanding a probe into the 'crackdown'.
European Union leaders have blamed Russia for Ukraine's refusal to sign a trade deal with the bloc, saying they will not allow Moscow to "veto" deals in Eastern Europe.
Ukraine refrained from signing the agreement after EU leaders said that Kiev had to allow imprisoned former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to travel overseas for medical treatment.
Kiev argues that Ukraine cannot afford to sacrifice trade with Russia for closer ties with the European bloc.
The Ukrainian president, however, said on Friday, "I confirm Ukraine's intention to sign the Association Agreement in the near future."
GMA/SS
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