12:14
20.3.2014
Military Prosecutor's office apparently being stormed in Simferopol.
В эти минуты идет захват военной прокуратуры в Симферополе Владислав Селезнев: источники из Симферополя... http://t.co/zg3CBdJf9G
— KRYM SOS (@KRYMSOS) March 20, 2014
12:11
20.3.2014
Some breaking news:
Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva has said Russia may be preparing a further military incursion into Ukrainian territory.
Yuriy Klymenko told a briefing on the human rights situation in Ukraine today that "there are indications that Russia is on its way to unleash a full-blown military intervention in Ukraine's east and south."
Klymenko called Russia's annexation of Crimea a farce, as well as unlawful and illegitimate, and called for Russia to negotiate.
He described Russia's occupation of Crimea as aggression and an illegal land grab and said human rights had seriously worsened there since Russia took control.
In response, a Russian diplomat read out a prepared statement, justifying Russia's actions as legal under Russian, Ukrainian, and international law. (Reuters, AFP)
Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva has said Russia may be preparing a further military incursion into Ukrainian territory.
Yuriy Klymenko told a briefing on the human rights situation in Ukraine today that "there are indications that Russia is on its way to unleash a full-blown military intervention in Ukraine's east and south."
Klymenko called Russia's annexation of Crimea a farce, as well as unlawful and illegitimate, and called for Russia to negotiate.
He described Russia's occupation of Crimea as aggression and an illegal land grab and said human rights had seriously worsened there since Russia took control.
In response, a Russian diplomat read out a prepared statement, justifying Russia's actions as legal under Russian, Ukrainian, and international law. (Reuters, AFP)
12:03
20.3.2014
OSCE has started to deploy team of 15 international experts to Ukraine as part of a National Dialogue project http://t.co/uDkE84GxqT
— OSCE (@OSCE) March 20, 2014
12:02
20.3.2014
Booking.com will reportedly boycott hotels belonging to Yanukovych and his former ministers.
http://t.co/8U221eZ2qn видалить з бази готелі, які належать Януковичу та колишнім міністрам - пише Watcher.
— MolodPlus (@MolodPlus) March 20, 2014
11:52
20.3.2014
At least eight Ukrainian activists and troops have been released after being abducted in Crimea.
Euromaidan activist Oleksiy Hrytsenko, who was among those detained, says one of the activists was shot in the leg.
Acting Ukrainian President Aleksandr Turchinov had given the self-proclaimed Crimean leadership until the evening of March 19 to release the men.
Euromaidan activist Oleksiy Hrytsenko, who was among those detained, says one of the activists was shot in the leg.
Acting Ukrainian President Aleksandr Turchinov had given the self-proclaimed Crimean leadership until the evening of March 19 to release the men.
В одного зі звільнених у Криму заручників прострілені ноги http://t.co/ALTQlKiNav
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) March 20, 2014
11:31
20.3.2014
Another interesting item from our newsdesk:
Russian border guards have markedly increased their checks on goods coming from Ukraine, including agricultural products.
Dmitry Kotikov, a spokesman for the Russian customs service, said the increased checks are due to reports of "possible attempts to bring contraband [into Russia] from Ukraine."
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said today that it had uncovered an illegal arms smuggling operation originating in "EU states."
The FSB's public relations office told the ITAR-TASS news agency that arms were being smuggled "from EU states to Russia via Ukraine by vehicles, rail, and [post]."
It said "short-barreled firearms" had been brought to Ukraine and were being smuggled to Russia's North Caucasus region by car.
The FSB said it had arrested several Ukrainian and Russian citizens in the operation at the Donetsk-Izarino border crossing. (Reuters, ITAR-TASS)
Russian border guards have markedly increased their checks on goods coming from Ukraine, including agricultural products.
Dmitry Kotikov, a spokesman for the Russian customs service, said the increased checks are due to reports of "possible attempts to bring contraband [into Russia] from Ukraine."
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said today that it had uncovered an illegal arms smuggling operation originating in "EU states."
The FSB's public relations office told the ITAR-TASS news agency that arms were being smuggled "from EU states to Russia via Ukraine by vehicles, rail, and [post]."
It said "short-barreled firearms" had been brought to Ukraine and were being smuggled to Russia's North Caucasus region by car.
The FSB said it had arrested several Ukrainian and Russian citizens in the operation at the Donetsk-Izarino border crossing. (Reuters, ITAR-TASS)
11:23
20.3.2014
11:22
20.3.2014
Authorities in Lviv say between 15 and 20 Crimeans seek refuge in the Lviv region every day. More than 800 have already relocated there, some of them Russians who oppose Crimea's annexation.
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service interviewed Crimean Tatar Sevil Koneeva, a mother of two who fled to Lviv last week.
It's hard to live in Crimea as a Tatar because other Crimeans don't understand you. I've found this understanding here.
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service interviewed Crimean Tatar Sevil Koneeva, a mother of two who fled to Lviv last week.
It's hard to live in Crimea as a Tatar because other Crimeans don't understand you. I've found this understanding here.
10:56
20.3.2014
Not long after he had an op-ed on the Crimea situation published in "The New York Times," Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny now finds himself accused of dealings with the CIA. This is from RFE/RL's newsdesk:
A pro-Kremlin television station has broadcast a report that accuses Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny of having contacts with the CIA and accepting foreign money.
The report -- which showed alleged recorded phone calls and covertly filmed hotel meetings -- was broadcast yesterdat by NTV, which is owned by gas giant Gazprom.
The program accused Navalny of trying to get money from European Parliament members and of meeting with CIA agents.
Navalny is under house arrest for taking part in an unsanctioned rally.
A pro-Kremlin television station has broadcast a report that accuses Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny of having contacts with the CIA and accepting foreign money.
The report -- which showed alleged recorded phone calls and covertly filmed hotel meetings -- was broadcast yesterdat by NTV, which is owned by gas giant Gazprom.
The program accused Navalny of trying to get money from European Parliament members and of meeting with CIA agents.
Navalny is under house arrest for taking part in an unsanctioned rally.
10:55
20.3.2014
Putin has signed a decree allowing Ukrainian officers who wish to serve in the Russian army to retain their military ranks. According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, there's a "large number" of hopefuls.
Желающие служить в России украинские офицеры сохранят воинские звания http://t.co/QlVh6gihbj
— Новости ДОЖДЯ (@tvrain_live) March 20, 2014