12:25
5.4.2014
In an ominous sign, ITAR-TASS is quoting the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying they are receiving "many letters" from Ukrainian citizens asking Moscow to protect their rights.
ROZHDESTVENO, Moscow Region, April 5 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has continued to receive many letters from residents of Ukraine who asked to protect their rights and freedoms, the head of the ministry's department of CIS countries, Viktor Sorokin, told a meeting of deputies of the party A Just Russia.
"We in the Foreign Ministry have received sacks of letters during all these months. Ordinary citizens ask to protect their basic rights to have free access to mass media and freely talk in their native language,"
Sorokin said.
"We in the Foreign Ministry have received sacks of letters during all these months. Ordinary citizens ask to protect their basic rights to have free access to mass media and freely talk in their native language,"
Sorokin said.
13:53
5.4.2014
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
European Union foreign ministers have pledged to continue dialogue with Russia to ease tensions over Moscow’s seizure of Ukraine’s Crimea, news agencies report. However, the ministers again warned the EU must be ready to impose further sanctions on Russia if Moscow continues to threaten the region. Speaking Saturday at an informal EU meeting in Greece, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the EU will continue to consult with Russia as the bloc prepares to sign trade and political accords with former Soviet states Moldova and Georgia in June. Some ministers said they were uneasy about how Russia could respond. Amid concerns over steep price hikes Russia is imposing on Ukraine for Russian gas, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was not in Russia’s interest to have a “collapsing state” on its border.
European Union foreign ministers have pledged to continue dialogue with Russia to ease tensions over Moscow’s seizure of Ukraine’s Crimea, news agencies report. However, the ministers again warned the EU must be ready to impose further sanctions on Russia if Moscow continues to threaten the region. Speaking Saturday at an informal EU meeting in Greece, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the EU will continue to consult with Russia as the bloc prepares to sign trade and political accords with former Soviet states Moldova and Georgia in June. Some ministers said they were uneasy about how Russia could respond. Amid concerns over steep price hikes Russia is imposing on Ukraine for Russian gas, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was not in Russia’s interest to have a “collapsing state” on its border.
13:56
5.4.2014
Poll in Ukraine by IRI, American pro-democracy NGO, says 66 pct ethnic Russians feel no threat, refuting a #Russia basis for seizing #Crimea
— David M. Herszenhorn (@herszenhorn) April 5, 2014
13:58
5.4.2014
Armenian ambassador in Kiev says Armenia did not betray Ukraine with its vote in UN General Assembly. It voted its national self interest
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) April 5, 2014
13:58
5.4.2014
Separatist protestor numbers continue to fall. 150 come out in Lugansk while 500 scream and yell pro Putin nonsense in Donetsk
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) April 5, 2014
14:05
5.4.2014
So who is Sergei Besada, the FSB officer who was reportedly in Kyiv on Feb. 20-21? Andrei Soldatov at Agentura.ru has some details.
15:17
5.4.2014
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
Results of a new U.S.-funded survey say most Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine do not feel “under pressure or threatened" because of their language. The International Republic Institute (IRI) said the findings “contradict claims by Moscow that Russian-speaking citizens are being threatened, a claim many believe is a pretext to further Russian incursions into Ukraine.” According to the results, 85 percent of Ukrainians, and 66 percent of ethnic Russians, said they don't feel that Russian-speaking citizens are facing increased pressures since the February ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. The IRI said 1,200 people participated in the poll, which was conducted in all Ukrainian regions, including Crimea, from March 14-26. The U.S. Agency for International Development funded the survey.
Results of a new U.S.-funded survey say most Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine do not feel “under pressure or threatened" because of their language. The International Republic Institute (IRI) said the findings “contradict claims by Moscow that Russian-speaking citizens are being threatened, a claim many believe is a pretext to further Russian incursions into Ukraine.” According to the results, 85 percent of Ukrainians, and 66 percent of ethnic Russians, said they don't feel that Russian-speaking citizens are facing increased pressures since the February ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. The IRI said 1,200 people participated in the poll, which was conducted in all Ukrainian regions, including Crimea, from March 14-26. The U.S. Agency for International Development funded the survey.
16:05
5.4.2014
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) says it has detained 15 people on suspicion of plotting to overthrow authorities in the mostly Russian-speaking eastern region of Luhansk, news agencies report. The SBU said 300 machine guns, an antitank grenade launcher, a large number of grenades, plus handguns and petrol bombs had been seized in the security operation. An SBU statement said “the group of attackers planned to carry out an armed seizure of power on April 10 in the Luhansk region through the intimidation of the peaceful population and the use of weapons and explosives.” No names or additional details about the alleged plot were provided. The announcement came after Russia’s Federal Security Service said earlier this week that it had detained 25 Ukrainians on suspicion of planning attacks in Russia.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) says it has detained 15 people on suspicion of plotting to overthrow authorities in the mostly Russian-speaking eastern region of Luhansk, news agencies report. The SBU said 300 machine guns, an antitank grenade launcher, a large number of grenades, plus handguns and petrol bombs had been seized in the security operation. An SBU statement said “the group of attackers planned to carry out an armed seizure of power on April 10 in the Luhansk region through the intimidation of the peaceful population and the use of weapons and explosives.” No names or additional details about the alleged plot were provided. The announcement came after Russia’s Federal Security Service said earlier this week that it had detained 25 Ukrainians on suspicion of planning attacks in Russia.
16:32
5.4.2014
And barring any major developments, that concludes our live blogging for April 5
09:18
6.4.2014
Moody’s downgrades #Ukraine to ‘default imminent’ citing current political crisis & deepening economic instability http://t.co/hWOHeVXqd1
— RT (@RT_com) April 6, 2014