U.S. Condemns Crackdown On Crimean Tatar Media
By RFE/RL
The United States has strongly condemned "Russian occupation authorities" for shutting down several Crimean Tatar language media on the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.
In a statement on April 2, the U.S. State Department called the closures on April 1 the "latest in a string of actions that undermine freedom of expression in Crimea."
Spokeswoman Marie Harf said that the media outlets that were closed included ATR TV, the last independent television station serving the Crimean Tatar population of Crimea, as well as QHA news agency, the newspaper Avdet, radio station Meydan FM, and many more.
Harf said the move followed a "yearlong crusade to silence the Crimean Tatar population and others who oppose Russia’s occupation."
She noted Crimean Tatars have been singled out and subjected to a "pattern of discrimination, intimidation, and persecution."
Amnesty International said Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor's failure to register Crimean Tatar media outlets under Russian law amounted to "a blatant attack on freedom of expression, dressed-up as an administrative procedure."
That concludes our live-blogging for today. Check back here Friday morning for more of our continuing coverage.
Video: Demining Dog Helps Sappers Clear Battlefields Of Donbas
The conflict in eastern Ukraine has left some areas riddled with mines and mortars even after the combatants have moved on to other battlefields. A team of sappers is working to clear the minefields, a dangerous job that requires courage, patience, and the assistance of a Labrador retriever named Lord. (Produced by Levko Stek of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service)
Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (CLICK TO ENLARGE):
No Casualties In Central Kyiv Bomb Blast
By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service
A bomb exploded in downtown Kyiv early in the morning on April 2.
No casualties were reported in the blast at about 4 a.m. at the entrance of a building that houses a bank branch.
It damaged doors and shattered windows of the building.
Several bombs have exploded in recent months in the southern port city city of Odesa and the eastern city of Kharkiv, both outside the area held by separatists in eastern Ukraine but seen as being coveted by the Russian-backed rebels.
Many of the bombs have appeared to target organizations with ties to government forces fighting against the rebels, and Ukrainian authorities have laid blame on Russia and the rebels.
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) on April 1 detained three people suspected of involvement in several bombings in Odesa between December and March.