Crisis in
Ukraine: Daily
Briefing
29 April 2014
1.
Kremlin-backed “separatism” in Eastern Ukraine
The
situation in several cities in eastern Ukraine remains very tense.
Kremlin-backed “separatists” continue to occupy several government buildings
and police headquarters in several cities in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. In
Slovaynsk, as of 6pm Kyiv time, Kremlin-backed “separatists” continue to hold
hostage a group of seven German-led unarmed military inspectors from OSCE-participating
states, together with five Ukrainian armed forces officers, which were taken
hostage on Friday. “Separatists” seized the Luhansk Oblast State Administration
building on 29 April, and there are reports that the city hall in Pervomaisk,
Luhansk oblast, has also been seized by “separatists.” The Ministry of Internal
Affairs reported that 14 people were hurt when pro-Russian supporters of
“separatism” attacked a pro-Ukrainian unity rally in Donetsk on 28 April. The
US Embassy issued a statement regarding the attack, “The United States is disgusted by last night’s savage attack
on the peaceful pro-unity demonstrators in Donetsk, including many women and
children...We also condemn the separatists’ taking of hostages, both Ukrainians
and international monitors, some of whom have been brutally beaten…we call on
all who hold sway with these armed groups, including the Russian Federation, to
arrange for an immediate cessation of all violent acts and the release of all
hostages.”
2. Assassination attempt on Kharkiv Mayor H.
Kernes
Kharkiv Mayor H. Kernes, against whom an
assassination attempt took place yesterday, was flown to Israel for further
surgeries. According to doctors his condition remains critical. The Ministry of
Internal Affairs reported that their investigative team has found the weapon
that was likely used in the assassination attempt.
3. Discussions on Constitutional Changes in
Ukraine
An open hearing on questions regarding changes to
Ukraine’s constitutional changes took place on Tuesday in Ukraine’s parliament.
Acting president O. Turchynov stated that the main questions that need to be
addressed are greater decentralization of power to local government; balance of
powers between the branches of government; an independent judiciary; and ensuring
civic control over the work of the government. Prime Minister A. Yatseniuk
stated that as part of Constitutional changes, oblast and raion (district)
state administration bodies should be eliminated, and heads (governors) of
oblasts and heads of district should be elected positions, and regional
governments should gain more powers over budgets and economic development.
Yatseniuk stated that a draft of the new Constitution should be developed and
reviewed (in particular, by the Venice Commission), before the presidential
elections on 25 May.
4. Possibility of all-Ukrainian referendum
The leader of the Batkivshchyna faction in
Parliament, S. Sobolev, stated on Tuesday in Parliament that a working group
has been formed in order to develop a draft bill on holding an all-Ukrainian
referendum on 15 June (which would be the same date as a possible runoff second
round in the presidential election). He stated that the draft law could be put
before parliament during the week of 11 May. He stated that the proposed
question should be developed by representatives of all parliamentary factions.
Sobolev stated that the Batkivshchyna faction proposes the following question -
“Do you support a united, unitary Ukraine with a maximum expansion of the
authority for local self-government?”
5. Turchynov addresses nation on state of
security organs in eastern Ukraine
Acting president O. Turchynov addressed the
nation on Tuesday, stating that “the events in the east of our country have
shown the inaction, helplessness and sometimes the criminal treason of
representatives of law enforcement structures in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
This is one of the main reasons for the low effectiveness and low results of
actions of Ukrainian law enforcement organs in the fight against terrorism.” He
stated that new heads of departments of the State
Security Service (SBU) in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts have been appointed and
demanded that the Ministry of Internal Affairs dismiss the heads of the Oblast
departments of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. He stated that the government
will have no choice but to carry out a complete renewal of the police and SBU
cadres in the east. He stated that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and SBU
will open hotlines for the recruitment of new personnel into law enforcement
units in the east; “in the first place, this regards those who have experience
of service in law enforcement organs and the Armed Forces
Taras Zalusky, Executive Director
Ukrainian Canadian Congress
(613) 232-8822
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