There is an armoured personnel carrier in front of Parliament in Kiev, voting on new government starting shortly. pic.twitter.com/rTvHtciXls
— Yulia Bragina (@YuliaSkyNews) February 27, 2014
People are gathering in front of Parliament building in Kiev, Ukraine they say to "to put pressure on MPs". pic.twitter.com/fJ4Xr7OFfg
— Yulia Bragina (@YuliaSkyNews) February 27, 2014
Like penguin documentary in Turkey @mashant Crisis in Crimea but local channel airing documentary about marmots http://t.co/UdnYE6Jtwm …
— Thomas Grove (@tggrove) February 27, 2014
Oleksandr Turchynov blamed the seizure of the buildings in the regional capital, Simferopol, early this morning on "criminals in military fatigues."
He also warned Russia against "military aggression" in Crimea.
It was not immediately clear who was occupying the buildings.
Crimean Prime Minister Anatoliy Mohyliov said a group of around 50 men had seized the buildings but they had not made any demands.
Acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov says police have been put on alert.
There has been rising concern about separatist tendencies in Crimea, with its largely ethnic Russian population, after the ouster of Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovych. (Reuters, AP, Interfax)
Ukraine's hyrvnia down another 3% today to a new low 10.45 per dollar. That's 15% fall so far this week: pic.twitter.com/Dm3bIhGw4u
— Jamie McGeever (@ReutersJamie) February 27, 2014
Tatar parliament speaker Farit Mukhametshin said today that the delegation's task is to assist Crimean authorities to restore order on the peninsula, where he said "destructive forces are trying to disrupt interethnic concord."
The Tatar delegation travels to Crimea as a group of unknown armed men have taken over the Crimean parliament and government headquarters in Simferopol, raising Russian flags atop the buildings early this morning.
On February 26, thousands of Crimean Tatars scuffled with pro-Russian demonstrators outside the Crimean parliament, preventing lawmakers from holding an extraordinary session to debate the situation after the ouster of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Tatars in Russia's Tatarstan and Crimean Tatars share common historical roots, culture, Islamic background, and language.
I'm concerned about developments in #Crimea. I urge #Russia not to take any action that can escalate tension or create misunderstanding
— AndersFogh Rasmussen (@AndersFoghR) February 27, 2014
In a written message to the Ukrainian people, ousted President Viktor Yanukovych says that he still sees himself as the legimately elected head of state. He said he has asked Russian authorities to ensure his personal security. (Interfax, ITAR-TASS)
Pro-Russia protesters outside #Crimea parliament. "We've been waiting for this moment for 20 yrs. United Russia!" pic.twitter.com/nXDSM84aa3
— Mark Lowen (@marklowen) February 27, 2014