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24Feb14

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Thousands bring flowers to honor victims of clashes in Kiev

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Thousands of Kiev residents bring flowers to Independence Square and Institutskaya and Grushevsky streets in downtown Kiev, where 82 people died and 675 were injured in violent clashes between radical protesters and police during three days from February 18 to 20.

Though Kiev city administration chairman Volodymyr Makeyenko stated that the dismantling of barricades would begin on February 24, nothing has been done yet. So-called self-defense squads from Independence Square remain on duty at the sites.

Barricades at Khreshchatyk Street are reinforced at the crossing of Bohdan Khmelnytsky Street with two water cannon vehicles that block the road for transport. Activists on duty let ambulances and vehicles of rioters carrying food and medicines pass to the central street. So-called self-defense guards remain on duty outside the Kiev mayor's office. There is a poster hanging above the entrance "We are against a police state". There are a lot of field kitchens operating, and there are a lot of medic volunteers.

Tension remains at Kiev streets. Some radicals say they are ordered to be in combat readiness. Radicals from the "right sector" sometimes set off powerful fireworks at Grushevsky Street in the central park.

A passage is opened in a concrete barricade for transport and people to go toward European Square.

Activists raise money to arm protesters. Nevertheless, there are a lot of people examining barricades and crushed streets. Some families are photographed against the background of the burnt House of Trade Unions at Independence Square and military vehicles destroyed or seized by radicals.

Kiev residents go to Institutskaya Street where people died during disorders. Flowers, lights and crosses are laid at the place in commemoration of the dead.

Radicals seem not to intend to leave Independence Square.

[Source: Itar Tas, Kiev, 24Feb14]

Ukraine Unrest

This document has been published on 25Feb14 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.