Good morning. We'll start the live blog today with this item issued by our news desk overnight:
U.S., Ukraine Vote Against Russian Measure Condemning Nazism At UN
The United States joined Ukraine in voting against a United Nations resolution condemning the glorification of Nazism, citing freedom of speech concerns and saying Russia sponsored the measure as a political attack against Ukraine.
The resolution, entitled "Combating Glorification Of Nazism, Neo-Nazism And Other Practices That Contribute To Fueling Contemporary Forms Of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, And Related Intolerance," was approved by the UN's human rights committee on November 17 by 131 to 3.
Joining the United States in voting "no" were Palau and Ukraine, where a far-right, vehemently anti-Russian party recently was formed with a symbol resembling a Nazi Wolfsangel.
"We condemn without reservation all forms of religious and ethnic intolerance or hatred at home and around the world," said Deputy U.S. Representative Stefanie Amadeo.
"However, due to this resolution's overly narrow scope and politicized nature, and because it calls for unacceptable limits on the fundamental freedom of expression, the United States cannot support it," Amadeo said.
"This resolution's recommendations to limit freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the right to peaceful assembly contravene the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and must be opposed," Amadeo said.
Based on reporting by AP and TASS
That concludes our live-blogging of the Ukraine crisis for Thursday, November 17. Check back here tomorrow for more of our continuing coverage.
Ukraine One Step Closer To EU Visa Liberalization
By RFE/RL
BRUSSELS -- EU member states moved a step closer to giving Ukraine visa-free access after ambassadors gave the bloc's executive authority the green light for new talks on easing the rules.
The decision on November 17 by EU ambassadors now gives the executive authority, known as the European Council, a mandate to work with the bloc's legislative chamber, the European Parliament, on a procedural mechanism.
The ability for Ukrainians to travel through Europe's so-called Schengen zone has been long sought by Kyiv, since it would potentially give a jolt to cross-border trade.
But some European nations fear an influx of lower-wage workers from Ukraine will put more pressure on labor markets and add to the growing doubts about immigration on the continents.
Both Ukraine and Georgia, another former Soviet republic, are at the same stage in the process, waiting for a compromise between the European Council and the European Parliament on the suspension mechanism.
Rent-A-Mob: Ukraine's Paid Protesters
Protests have been taking place calling for the head of the Ukrainian National Bank to resign, but some people taking part were paid to participate. Reporters from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, posing as people interested in earning money by joining the protest, recorded demonstrators saying how much money they were promised.
