12:22
3.4.2014
A little more detail on the news that investigators are holding Yanukovych responsible for the Maidan deaths by sniper fire:
Ukrainian security officials say the killings of protesters in Kyiv in February occurred "under the direct leadership" of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, and accused Russian security services of involvement in the repression.
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov told a news conference that Yanukovych "issued the criminal order... to open fire against protesters on February 18-20."
More than 100 people were killed during the protests which started in November, most of them between February 18-20.
Many of those who died appeared to have been killed by snipers.
Valentyn Nalyvaychenko, the head of Ukraine's security service, said that employees of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) took part in "planning" the security forces' "operation" against Maidan protesters.
An FSB spokesman immediately rejected Nalyvaychenko's statement.
Yanukovych fled the day after the worst of the killings by sniper fire on February 20 and was later ousted by parliament.
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov told a news conference that Yanukovych "issued the criminal order... to open fire against protesters on February 18-20."
More than 100 people were killed during the protests which started in November, most of them between February 18-20.
Many of those who died appeared to have been killed by snipers.
Valentyn Nalyvaychenko, the head of Ukraine's security service, said that employees of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) took part in "planning" the security forces' "operation" against Maidan protesters.
An FSB spokesman immediately rejected Nalyvaychenko's statement.
Yanukovych fled the day after the worst of the killings by sniper fire on February 20 and was later ousted by parliament.
12:08
3.4.2014
Russia says has evidence Ukrainian far-right behind snipers. Ukraine says has evidence security services with Rus FSB consultation to blame.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) April 3, 2014
11:46
3.4.2014
The mass murder of #Euromaidan protesters was organized with the help of Yanukovych - Security Service chief pic.twitter.com/lmLlKoEiyE
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) April 3, 2014
11:05
3.4.2014
Another item from RFE/RL's news desk:
Officials from Ukraine's Naftogaz company are due in Moscow today where they are expected to meet with Gazprom director Aleksei Miller.
It would be the first time Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan and Naftogaz head Andrei Kobolev have met with Russian energy officials.
Gazprom has not commented on the meeting.
The state-controlled Russian energy corporation has stated that Ukraine owes it some $1.7 billion in arrears.
Miller announced two days ago that the price of natural gas for Ukraine has been increased by more than 40 percent per thousand cubic meters for the second quarter of 2014, to a price of $385.5 per thousand cubic meters.
Gazprom officials said the increase is in line with a December agreement in which the price is increased if Ukraine does not pay its bill on time.
It would be the first time Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan and Naftogaz head Andrei Kobolev have met with Russian energy officials.
Gazprom has not commented on the meeting.
The state-controlled Russian energy corporation has stated that Ukraine owes it some $1.7 billion in arrears.
Miller announced two days ago that the price of natural gas for Ukraine has been increased by more than 40 percent per thousand cubic meters for the second quarter of 2014, to a price of $385.5 per thousand cubic meters.
Gazprom officials said the increase is in line with a December agreement in which the price is increased if Ukraine does not pay its bill on time.
10:35
3.4.2014
How #Russia's Gazprom has stumbled, and what it tells us about Putin's vulnerabilities http://t.co/qukcXADPYs via @BloombergNews
— Jonathan Eyal (@JEyal_RUSI) April 3, 2014
10:13
3.4.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has some more details regarding Sergei Lavrov's "de-escalation" comments:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said some Russian troops near the Ukrainian border will return to permanent bases after completing military drills, and called for the "de-escalation" of rhetoric over the Ukrainian crisis.
At a news conference in Moscow on April 3 with his Kazakh counterpart, Lavrov said one battalion involved in the drills has already returned to base in the Rostov region.
He said other units would be returning to their bases after they "fulfill their tasks" in the military exercises.
He said "there are no restrictions on the movements of military units within the territory of the Russian Federation" and he added "our Western partners recognize this."
Lavrov also said Moscow has addressed questions to NATO about the alliance's activities in East Europe.
He added, "We are not only expecting answers, but answers that will be based fully on respect for the rules we agreed on."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said some Russian troops near the Ukrainian border will return to permanent bases after completing military drills, and called for the "de-escalation" of rhetoric over the Ukrainian crisis.
At a news conference in Moscow on April 3 with his Kazakh counterpart, Lavrov said one battalion involved in the drills has already returned to base in the Rostov region.
He said other units would be returning to their bases after they "fulfill their tasks" in the military exercises.
He said "there are no restrictions on the movements of military units within the territory of the Russian Federation" and he added "our Western partners recognize this."
Lavrov also said Moscow has addressed questions to NATO about the alliance's activities in East Europe.
He added, "We are not only expecting answers, but answers that will be based fully on respect for the rules we agreed on."
09:58
3.4.2014
Ukrainian forces carry out war games in Desna, Chernihiv region - PHOTOS http://t.co/x8vv6tR24J pic.twitter.com/bCRmhjI3lK
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) April 3, 2014
09:34
3.4.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has issued this item on the arrests made over the Maidan deaths in February:
Ukrainian authorities have arrested 12 members of the disbanded special police unit, Berkut, on suspicion of shooting unarmed pro-EU demonstrators in Kyiv in February.
A spokesman for the prosecutor-general said today that investigations continue into the killings of more than 100 people on Kyiv's Independence Square, most of whom were shot by snipers.
Ukraine's acting Attorney General Oleh Makhnitskyy said yesterday that the detained officers were members of a specialized Berkut squad called the "Black Unit."
According to Makhntitskyy, preliminary investigations revealed that the Berkut officers opened fire at the demonstrators on the order of then-President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted by the protesters two days after the shootings.
A special commission is due to hear the results of a preliminary investigation into the deaths at the Maidan protests later today.
A spokesman for the prosecutor-general said today that investigations continue into the killings of more than 100 people on Kyiv's Independence Square, most of whom were shot by snipers.
Ukraine's acting Attorney General Oleh Makhnitskyy said yesterday that the detained officers were members of a specialized Berkut squad called the "Black Unit."
According to Makhntitskyy, preliminary investigations revealed that the Berkut officers opened fire at the demonstrators on the order of then-President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted by the protesters two days after the shootings.
A special commission is due to hear the results of a preliminary investigation into the deaths at the Maidan protests later today.
09:21
3.4.2014
!!! BREAKING NEWS !!!
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says some Russian troops near the Ukrainian border will return to permanent bases after completing military drills. He has also called for a "de-escalation" of rhetoric concerning Ukraine.Lavrov also says Moscow expects answers from NATO on the alliance's activity in Eastern Europe
08:07
3.4.2014
#Ukraine Interior Minister @AvakovArsen to give presser in Kyiv today. Likely we'll learn more about snipers and arrests then.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) April 3, 2014