15:39
28.3.2014
So, if Russia cancels its basing agreements with Ukraine because it considers Crimea part of Russia, the presence of troops in Crimea is now illegal? Wasn't it already? And then there's the annexation of the region itself...
15:33
28.3.2014
14:44
28.3.2014
News agencies are reporting that families of the people who lost their lives during antigovernment protests in Kyiv will receive financial compensation.
The Ukrainian government on Friday approved a proposal from Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk that the family of each victim be given the equivalent of $10,000.
In additional, survivors, including children, will be given monthly payments of 5,000 hryvnyas ($440) as of April 1.
The payments will be given to the families of all victims of the violence, including both demonstrators and police.
According to the latest data, 104 people died in the three-month standoff that led to ouster of President of Viktor Yanukovych in late February.
In additional, survivors, including children, will be given monthly payments of 5,000 hryvnyas ($440) as of April 1.
The payments will be given to the families of all victims of the violence, including both demonstrators and police.
According to the latest data, 104 people died in the three-month standoff that led to ouster of President of Viktor Yanukovych in late February.
14:23
28.3.2014
Possibly not really relevent to anything at all.... From the Kyiv Post:
Watch the rock video here.
This is the non-rock version.
A rock version of Ukraine's national anthem popped up on YouTube on March 24. The video featuring musician and Kharkiv EuroMaidan activist Nikita Rubchenko got some 300,000 views in just the first three days.
A new version of the "Ukraine Has Not Yet Died" ("Shche ne vmerla Ukrayina"), Ukraine's national anthem, includes guitar sound and drum beats.
"It was made to support the country and Ukrainian citizens," Rubchenko wrote on his Facebook page.
A new version of the "Ukraine Has Not Yet Died" ("Shche ne vmerla Ukrayina"), Ukraine's national anthem, includes guitar sound and drum beats.
"It was made to support the country and Ukrainian citizens," Rubchenko wrote on his Facebook page.
Watch the rock video here.
This is the non-rock version.
14:15
28.3.2014
Yanukovich may be the first president in history to call for a referendum giving each region the option to stay or go http://t.co/xpwGByTr2d
— Simon Ostrovsky (@SimonOstrovsky) March 28, 2014
13:47
28.3.2014
Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic has offered a professorship to Andrei Zubov, an academic and political commentator who compared Putin to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
Zubov wrote a scathingly critical piece in "Vedomosti" of Putin's actions over Crimea a few weeks ago and was hauled in front of the university authorities. According to Reuters, Zubov was fired on Monday:
After he wrote the piece, Claire Bigg spoke to Zubov. The interview is here.
Zubov wrote a scathingly critical piece in "Vedomosti" of Putin's actions over Crimea a few weeks ago and was hauled in front of the university authorities. According to Reuters, Zubov was fired on Monday:
The Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), a diplomatic school with ties to the foreign ministry where Zubov has worked since 2001, said it had dismissed him for criticizing Russia's foreign policy.
After he wrote the piece, Claire Bigg spoke to Zubov. The interview is here.
12:35
28.3.2014
Putin has just thanked Russian soldiers for their work in Crimea. But, but, but, they weren't there, surely? http://t.co/NbJGrfHLSR
— Oliver Bullough (@OliverBullough) March 28, 2014
12:01
28.3.2014
Regarding the Swiss sanctioning of Russia, there's this.
Rich Russians in #Switzerland by region and number of firms with Russian staff http://t.co/eVHRRiziEs pic.twitter.com/4xzM7hYh8r
— Fabian Burkhardt (@sanwaldinjo) March 28, 2014
11:56
28.3.2014
From the wires:
Moscow says Switzerland's decision to sanction Russia for its annexation of Crimea is "counterproductive."
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the penalties "ignore the realities and the explanations" given by Russian authorities about the situation on the Ukrainian peninsula.
Switzerland on March 26 imposed travel restrictions on a number of Russian officials, halted negotiations on a free-trade deal, and suspended weapons exports to Russia.
It also froze assets held by Ukraine's ousted former president, Viktor Yanukovych, and his entourage in Swiss banks.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the penalties "ignore the realities and the explanations" given by Russian authorities about the situation on the Ukrainian peninsula.
Switzerland on March 26 imposed travel restrictions on a number of Russian officials, halted negotiations on a free-trade deal, and suspended weapons exports to Russia.
It also froze assets held by Ukraine's ousted former president, Viktor Yanukovych, and his entourage in Swiss banks.
11:53
28.3.2014
Via the Russian agencies. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the actions of Russian military forces in the Ukrainian region of Crimea have demonstrated the "high level of preparedness" in the Russian armed forces.
Speaking at a military awards ceremony in Moscow on Friday, Putin thanked the commanders and service personnel of the Black Sea Fleet and other units based in Crimea for their service and courage.
He said the military had demonstrated its professionalism by avoiding provocations and preventing bloodshed during the process of Russia's internationally unrecognized annexation of the Black Sea peninsula.
He ordered Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to begin handing over to Ukraine all military equipment and weapons belonging to units that have not joined the Russian military.
Shoigu said on Friday that all Ukrainian military installations in Crimea are under Russian control.
He said the military had demonstrated its professionalism by avoiding provocations and preventing bloodshed during the process of Russia's internationally unrecognized annexation of the Black Sea peninsula.
He ordered Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to begin handing over to Ukraine all military equipment and weapons belonging to units that have not joined the Russian military.
Shoigu said on Friday that all Ukrainian military installations in Crimea are under Russian control.