14:58
7.3.2014
14:54
7.3.2014
Interfax is reporting that monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have been refused entry into Crimea for the second straight day. Unidentified armed people blocking the road informed the observer mission that any movement on the territory of Crimea required the approval of the autonomous territory's new government.
The OSCE has sent a mission comprising 47 people from 25 OSCE countries to Ukraine at the request of the government in Kyiv.
The OSCE has sent a mission comprising 47 people from 25 OSCE countries to Ukraine at the request of the government in Kyiv.
14:50
7.3.2014
14:49
7.3.2014
In an interview with RFE/RL's Russian Service, Ukrainian Ambassador to Russia Volodymyr Yelchenko refuted media reports that Russia has suspended diplomatic relations with Ukraine.
"I think that this is the result of a certain misstatement on the part of Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin, who said that now our diplomatic relations have been interrupted. He had in mind, or was confirming, the oft-stated notion that we do not have intergovernmental contacts in view of the fact that the Russian Federation does not recognize our government. It was confirmed to me personally by the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation that the word "political" may have been confused with the word "diplomatic." In reality, no diplomatic relations have been interrupted and our embassy is working normally."
"I think that this is the result of a certain misstatement on the part of Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin, who said that now our diplomatic relations have been interrupted. He had in mind, or was confirming, the oft-stated notion that we do not have intergovernmental contacts in view of the fact that the Russian Federation does not recognize our government. It was confirmed to me personally by the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation that the word "political" may have been confused with the word "diplomatic." In reality, no diplomatic relations have been interrupted and our embassy is working normally."
14:43
7.3.2014
Russia's liberal opposition movements PARNAS and Solidarity have posted a new video by former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov on the introduction of Russian military forces in Ukraine entitled "Putin's Lie About Russian Forces In Crimea":
14:26
7.3.2014
RFE/RL video report of French FEMEN activists who were beaten in Crimea on March 6. They spoke to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service today in Kyiv.
14:12
7.3.2014
"The Kyiv Post" reports that tourism is collapsing in Crimea this year. Pre-paid holiday packages are down 90 percent over last year. Tourism is worth about $5 billion annually to the region, according to the Crimean Resorts and Tourism Ministry.
14:06
7.3.2014
The foreign ministers of the Nordic, Baltic, and Visegrad countries, meeting in Narva, Estonia, have issued a statement on the situation in Ukraine.
They describe the situation as "critical" and say "an act of aggression has been committed by Russian military forces." The call the scheduled referendum in Crimea on joining the Russian Federation "illegitimate" and "unacceptable."
"The NB8 and V4 group reaffirms its strong support for Ukraine’s, Moldova’s and Georgia’s goal of further association with the European Union and supports the signing of the Association Agreements in the nearest possible future," the statement reads.
They describe the situation as "critical" and say "an act of aggression has been committed by Russian military forces." The call the scheduled referendum in Crimea on joining the Russian Federation "illegitimate" and "unacceptable."
"The NB8 and V4 group reaffirms its strong support for Ukraine’s, Moldova’s and Georgia’s goal of further association with the European Union and supports the signing of the Association Agreements in the nearest possible future," the statement reads.
13:52
7.3.2014
13:51
7.3.2014
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has issued a statement saying that "freedom of information is in dire state in Crimea."
“At a time when the entire world is following events in Crimea, those who control the region have duty to allow local and foreign journalists to do their job. The obstruction and censorship taking place under their authority is unacceptable," said RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire.
The statement describes several incidents of harassment of journalists or infringements of access to information in Crimea in the last few days.
“At a time when the entire world is following events in Crimea, those who control the region have duty to allow local and foreign journalists to do their job. The obstruction and censorship taking place under their authority is unacceptable," said RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire.
The statement describes several incidents of harassment of journalists or infringements of access to information in Crimea in the last few days.