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Ukrainian Police To Be Given Combat Weapons, EU Imposes Sanctions

February 20, 2014
by RFE/RL

Ukraine's acting interior minister says police have been armed with combat weapons, after two days of fierce fighting on the streets of Kyiv.

Kyiv city's health authorities say nearly 70 people have been killed and some 550 injured since violence between security forces and government opponents erupted on February 18.

The victims include both demonstrators and security forces. Many of those killed reportedly died of gunshot wounds.

Meanwhile, acting Interior Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko said in a statement that he had signed an order to give police combat weapons to be 'used in accordance with the law.'

Zakharchenko urged 'extremists' to hand over their weapons, and for opposition leaders to condemn radical actions. He also praised the restraint of police during assaults by angry protesters and thugs.

In another development, the Interior Ministry has accused 'extremists' of capturing 67 security officers and holding them hostage.

The ministry says police have the right to use their weapons to free the hostages.

Meanwhile, European Union foreign ministers have agreed to impose sanctions targeting Ukrainian officials deemed responsible for this week's violence and the use of excessive force.

The measures, approved at an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on February 20, include visa bans and asset freezes. They also include restrictions on the export to Ukraine of antiriot equipment, such as batons, that could be used for repression.

No names of individuals subject to the sanctions were listed.

The EU's move follows the United States' announcement on February 19 that it was imposing sanctions on 20 Ukrainian officials deemed responsible for violence.

EU foreign-policy chief Catherine Ashton said the measures were necessary. 'In the light of the deteriorating situation we decided as a matter of urgency that we need to look at target sanctions, we have agreed to suspend export licenses for equipment for internal repression,' she said.

Before the meeting of EU ministers, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said that an international response to the Ukrainian violence was essential.

'There has to be an international response to what has happened over the last few days and that is why we will be discussing sanctions, measures for those responsible for the violence,' he said.

'It is time for people on all sides to turn away from violence but the Ukrainian government, of course, bears the greatest responsibility and particular responsibility to take the lead in making sure that it happens.'

The German, French and Polish foreign ministers were not at the session in Brussels.

An announcement was made that those three would remain until February 21 in Kyiv, where they have been in talks with President Viktor Yanukovych.

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said he and the two other foreign ministers would continue talks into the morning and faced a night of 'tough negotiations,' but he added there were hopeful signs of progress in the talks.

In the Russian capital, Moscow, it was announced that President Vladimir Putin has decided to send Vladimir Lukin to Kyiv to act as a mediator between the Ukrainian government and opposition leaders.

The Kremlin announced the move on February 20 after a phone call between Putin and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Reports say Yanukovych requested the dispatch of a Russian mediator. Lukin has been serving as the Kremlin's appointed human rights ombudsman.

In Washington, the White House released a statement saying it was 'outraged' at Ukrainian forces using automatic weapons against Ukrainian people.

The statement called on President Yanukovych to 'immediately withdraw his security forces from downtown Kyiv and to respect the right of peaceful protest, and we urge protesters to express themselves peacefully.'

With reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-police-combat- weapons-eu-sanctions/25271430.html

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Ukrainian Police To Be Given Combat Weapons, EU Imposes Sanctions