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A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard in the city of Schastye in the Luhansk region late last month.
A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard in the city of Schastye in the Luhansk region late last month.

Live Blog: Ukraine In Crisis (Archive)

Final News Summary For September 1, 2017

-- EDITOR'S NOTE: We have started a new Ukraine Live Blog as of September 2, 2017. Find it here.

-- Ukraine says it will introduce new border-crossing rules from next year, affecting citizens of “countries that pose risks for Ukraine.”

-- The Association Agreement strengthening ties between Ukraine and the European Union entered into force on September 1, marking an end to four years of political drama surrounding the accord.

-- The trial of Crimean journalist Mykola Semena will resume later this month after the first hearing in weeks produced little progress toward a resolution of the politically charged case.

*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv (GMT +3)

16:49 2.11.2016

15:56 2.11.2016

Here's an item from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service:

Washington Hails Ukrainian Officials' Public Declarations Of Wealth

U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch

Washington has welcomed Ukrainian officials' public declarations of their wealth as a step toward increasing citizens' confidence in elected officials.

U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch told RFE/RL in an interview on November 2 that the asset declaration system is "an important first step" toward increasing transparency in government.

She added that the declarations are necessary in order for Ukrainians to "have confidence that their public officials don't have conflicts of interest and that their wealth is acquired in a legitimate manner."

She added that the asset declarations are now being looked at by journalists and anticorruption agencies in Ukraine and that scrutiny is an important second step to the process.

Officials had until October 30 to upload details of their assets and income in 2015 to a publicly searchable database, part of an International Monetary Fund-backed drive to boost transparency and modernize Ukraine's recession-hit economy.

The online declarations of wealth online have exposed a vast difference between the fortunes of politicians and those they represent.

Some senior officials declared millions of dollars in cash. Others said they owned fleets of luxury cars, expensive Swiss watches, diamond jewels, and large tracts of land.

15:07 2.11.2016

15:01 2.11.2016

14:59 2.11.2016

14:54 2.11.2016

It seems that there are also some serious GOT fans in the Donbas conflict zone (video from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service):

'Game Of Thrones' On Ukraine's Front Lines

Soldiers and volunteers fighting near Avdiyivka in eastern Ukraine have built a massive throne out of spent munitions -- an homage to the throne of swords seen in a hit TV show. It's part art project and part public outreach, intended to raise support and funds to continue fighting.

'Game Of Thrones' On Ukraine's Front Lines
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14:17 2.11.2016

Here's an item from Moscow by RFE/RL's Russian Service:

Ukrainian Library Director Goes On Trial In Moscow

Natalya Sharina, the director of Moscow's Ukrainian Literature Library, attends a court hearing in Moscow on November
Natalya Sharina, the director of Moscow's Ukrainian Literature Library, attends a court hearing in Moscow on November

The trial of the director of Moscow's Ukrainian Literature Library kicked off in the Russian capital on November 2.

Natalya Sharina pleaded not guilty to charges of extremism and embezzlement.

Sharina was detained last October and charged with inciting extremism and ethnic hatred because her library's collection allegedly included books by Ukrainian ultranationalist and author Dmytro Korchynskiy, whose works are banned in Russia.

She was placed under house arrest.

In April, investigators charged Sharina with misallocating library funds, allegedly because she used library funds to pay for her legal defense in another extremism case against her that was dismissed in 2013.

Her lawyer said the authorities had "trumped up" new charges after realizing their initial case against his client was too weak.

Sharina has rejected all the allegations against her, saying they are politically motivated.

13:54 2.11.2016

We're putting this in the live blog because some of you may be interested in reading about this:

13:52 2.11.2016

13:52 2.11.2016

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