15:35
19.3.2014
Here's the UN statement on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's trip to Russia and Ukraine. The March 20-21 visit is "part of his diplomatic efforts to encourage all parties to resolve the crisis peacefully."
15:52
19.3.2014
It looks like Kyiv is now reconsidering its membership of the CIS:
Ukraine's new authorities have resigned from holding the one-year rotating chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
A spokesman with the Foreign Ministry, Evhen Perebyinis, said Ukraine is also considering quitting its membership in the grouping of former Soviet republics.
He said that, instead of fulfilling its main tasks, the CIS has become "an instrument of implementing the interests of certain members of the Commonwealth, in particular Russia."
Perebyinis said the CIS-endorsed principles of respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity have been thrown into doubt by this week's annexation by Russia of Ukraine's Crimea.
Ukraine, along with Russia and Belarus, was among the founders of the CIS after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
However, Ukraine never ratified the CIS Charter. (Interfax, UNIAN)
A spokesman with the Foreign Ministry, Evhen Perebyinis, said Ukraine is also considering quitting its membership in the grouping of former Soviet republics.
He said that, instead of fulfilling its main tasks, the CIS has become "an instrument of implementing the interests of certain members of the Commonwealth, in particular Russia."
Perebyinis said the CIS-endorsed principles of respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity have been thrown into doubt by this week's annexation by Russia of Ukraine's Crimea.
Ukraine, along with Russia and Belarus, was among the founders of the CIS after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
However, Ukraine never ratified the CIS Charter. (Interfax, UNIAN)
16:06
19.3.2014
Ukraine's nationalist Svoboda party is under fire for assaulting and briefly abducting the head of the First National TV Channel.
Oleksandr Panteleymonov was visited in his offices by Svoboda lawmaker Igor Miroshnichenko and at least five thugs who beat him and forced him to write a resignation letter.
Amesty International urges Ukrainian authorities to immediately investigate what it calls a "brutal attack."
Here's a video of the attack -- it begins at 4'40.
Oleksandr Panteleymonov was visited in his offices by Svoboda lawmaker Igor Miroshnichenko and at least five thugs who beat him and forced him to write a resignation letter.
Amesty International urges Ukrainian authorities to immediately investigate what it calls a "brutal attack."
Here's a video of the attack -- it begins at 4'40.
16:11
19.3.2014
It seems sport is another area that is feeling the effects of the Ukraine crisis:
Ukraine has announced it is withdrawing as host of the Eurobasket 2015 basketball tournament, citing the turmoil that has recently convulsed the country.
The chief of Ukraine's organizing committee, Markian Lubkivsky, said it would be impossible for Ukraine to prepare to host the championship during what he described as the "current severe economic and political conditions."
Lubkivsky said hosting the European basketball championship requires planning and the efforts of thousands of people.
Lubkivsky added that the "complicated financial situation" in Ukraine made hosting such an event impossible at this time, since there are currently higher priorities.
He said he hoped Ukraine would be in a position to host the event in 2017. (Reuters, AFP)
The chief of Ukraine's organizing committee, Markian Lubkivsky, said it would be impossible for Ukraine to prepare to host the championship during what he described as the "current severe economic and political conditions."
Lubkivsky said hosting the European basketball championship requires planning and the efforts of thousands of people.
Lubkivsky added that the "complicated financial situation" in Ukraine made hosting such an event impossible at this time, since there are currently higher priorities.
He said he hoped Ukraine would be in a position to host the event in 2017. (Reuters, AFP)
16:20
19.3.2014
Yulia Tymosheko signed out of Berlin hospital, on her way to Kyiv
Тимошенко виписалась із Шаріте і їде до Києва http://t.co/8UE1O9R5XF
— Українська правда (@ukrpravda_news) March 19, 2014
16:43
19.3.2014
Crimean refugees are calling on Kyiv to evacuate residents facing repression from pro-Russian forces ruling the peninsula. There are reports of Ukrainian military personnel being evicted from their homes. A black list of local Ukrainian troops and anti-annexation activists is reportedly being drafted in Crimea.
Втікачі з Криму просять офіційний Київ створити програму з переселення http://t.co/MOWE9HI7Qt
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) March 19, 2014
16:59
19.3.2014
And now, plans for a $1.5B bridge from Kerch, #Crimea to #Russia. Pretty sure it'll end up costing $5.1B. Or $51B. http://t.co/DVGq8h5aIc
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) March 19, 2014
17:01
19.3.2014
Protesters gather at Kyiv prosecutor's office to demand investigation into attack on news chief by Svoboda lawmakers http://t.co/OMrPoCRGmB
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) March 19, 2014
17:22
19.3.2014
This just in from the Russian wires:
Russia's Federal Migration Service says it has begun issuing Russian passports in Crimea.
Service chief Konstantin Romodanovsky told Russian media today that "work has started."
"We have issued some passports today." Romodanovsky said. "All Crimean residents who applied to the Federal Migration Service will get passports, because starting yesterday they are Russian citizens."
Romodanovsky also said that there are growing signs of what he called "a humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine."
He did not elaborate, but added that "the number of elderly and children entering Russia has doubled" since early March. (Interfax, ITAR-TASS)
Service chief Konstantin Romodanovsky told Russian media today that "work has started."
"We have issued some passports today." Romodanovsky said. "All Crimean residents who applied to the Federal Migration Service will get passports, because starting yesterday they are Russian citizens."
Romodanovsky also said that there are growing signs of what he called "a humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine."
He did not elaborate, but added that "the number of elderly and children entering Russia has doubled" since early March. (Interfax, ITAR-TASS)
17:30
19.3.2014
Here are some more details about Yulia Tymoshenko leaving hospital:
The formerly jailed Ukrainian political figure Yulia Tymoshenko has been released from a German hospital and is expected to return to Ukraine.
The Charite clinic in Berlin said in a statement today that, during her 12-day stay, Tymoshenko received two injections in her spinal column as part of treatment for three slipped discs.
It said the injections "drastically reduced" her pain and improved function in her right leg.
The statement added that the 53-year-old former prime minister has also undergone "intensive" physiotherapy.
Tymoshenko was freed from prison in Ukraine on February 23 after President Viktor Yanukovych, her political rival, fled Kyiv in the face of antigovernment protests.
She had spent 2 1/2 years in detention on a conviction for abuse of power.
Critics said the prosecution was politically motivated. (AP, dpa)
The Charite clinic in Berlin said in a statement today that, during her 12-day stay, Tymoshenko received two injections in her spinal column as part of treatment for three slipped discs.
It said the injections "drastically reduced" her pain and improved function in her right leg.
The statement added that the 53-year-old former prime minister has also undergone "intensive" physiotherapy.
Tymoshenko was freed from prison in Ukraine on February 23 after President Viktor Yanukovych, her political rival, fled Kyiv in the face of antigovernment protests.
She had spent 2 1/2 years in detention on a conviction for abuse of power.
Critics said the prosecution was politically motivated. (AP, dpa)