Ukraine protests: US ‘disgust’ at heavy police tactics
Protesters vow to stand firm in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, despite a police crackdown on Tuesday night which has met with strong international calls for restraint.
Scores of Ukrainian riot police cleared several streets in Kiev overnight, taking action after 10 days of anti-government protests.
Black-clad police with visors and helmets tore down some barricades, surrounded government buildings and attempted to break up protest camps in the Ukrainian capital, including the main camp at Independence Square. But after they left the square, protesters returned and vowed to keep up the fight until their demands were met.
The demonstrators took to the streets after the government turned away from closer ties with the European Union in favour of a relationship with Russia almost two weeks ago, and they have stayed there ever since – despite the freezing temperatures of a Ukrainian winter and regular snowfall.
We understand that Yanukovich has not wish to talk to the people and only understands physical force. Vitaly Klitschko
Vitaly Klitschko, a world boxing champion who has emerged as one of the main figures of the opposition, said the overnight police action ordered by President Viktor Yanukovich had “closed off the path to compromise”.
“We had planned to have talks with Yanukovich. We understand that Yanukovich has not wish to talk to the people and only understands physical force,” he told a news conference.
The police moves energised the protests, drawing thousands of people back out into the streets to defend the camp, many wearing plastic hardhats in orange, the colour that symbolised a successful popular revolt against a fraudulent election in 2004.
Disgust at force
Western countries reacted strongly to the use of force. US assistant secretary of state Victoria Nuland and the EU’s Baroness Ashton were both in Kiev for talks with the government, which Ms Nuland described as “tough but realistic”.
US Foreign Secretary John Kerry said: “The United States expresses its disgust with the decision of Ukrainian authorities to meet the peaceful protest in Kiev’s Maidan Square with riot police, bulldozers, and batons, rather than with respect for democratic rights and human dignity. This response is neither acceptable nor does it befit a democracy.” Baroness Ashton also said it was concerning that the operation had taken place “under cover of night”.
Protesters were equally vocal about their fear overnight, with figures from politicians to priests pleading with police not to shed blood. Some protesters held mobile phones in the air like candles and sang the national anthem, while church bells rang out from a cathedral about 2 km (about 1 mile) away, as in times of danger centuries ago.
Interior minister Vitaly Zakharchenko called for calm and promised there would be no storming of the square.
What next?
The main question now is how is this stand-off in the centre of Kiev is going to end, writes Channel 4 News Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Jonathan Rugman.
After more than a fortnight of protests, there is as yet no sign that the freezing weather is going to drive protestors off the streets.
There's no sign either that President Yanukovich is about to sign a free trade treaty with the European Union; or that he will resign and call fresh elections, as the protestors want. The free trade deal does not come with enough EU cash attached; and If there were elections, Yanukovich would almost certainly lose.
The president tried using force last night, but after a chorus of disapproval from Washington and Brussels, the riot police have now withdrawn.
The most likely outcome would appear to be some sort of compromise: a resumption of dialogue with the EU on a trade deal would perhaps be enough to persuade protestors to go home, if this is what the EU asks protest leaders to do. Though Mr Yanukovich simply can't afford to risk Russian sanctions and will not endanger Ukraine's all important trading relationship with Moscow for the sake of a better relationship with the EU.
In other words, Ukraine's leader will try to restore the delicate east-west balancing act to equilibrium. Whether protestors will accept such a compromise remains to be seen.
