Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing
12 January 2015, 11 PM Kyiv time
1. Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported at 12:30 PM Kyiv time that the situation in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone has worsened. In addition to small arms, Kremlin-backed terrorists fired on Ukrainian positions with tanks, mortars and Grads (truck-mounted multiple rocket launchers). Kremlin-backed terrorists attacked Ukrainian positions at the Donetsk airport; the attack was repelled. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 2 Ukrainian soldiers were wounded. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that throughout the day Kremlin-backed terrorists fired on Ukrainian positions 58 times.
2. Merkel to Putin: No summit unless there is real progress
Reuters reported that German Chancellor A. Merkel told Russian President V. Putin in a phone call on 10 January that talks (Ukraine, Germany, France, Russia) to discuss the situation in Ukraine “would not take place until there was real progress on the Minsk peace plan.” The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia are meeting in Berlin today.
3. Interpol: Yanukovych, Azarov placed on wanted list
Interpol announced that it has placed former Ukrainian president V. Yanukovych and former Ukrainian PM M. Azarov on its international wanted list (by issuing “Red Notices”) at the request of Ukrainian authorities. Interpol stated that both Yanukovych and Azarov are wanted for “Misappropriation, embezzlement or conversion of property by malversation, if committed in respect of an especially gross amount, or by an organized group.” Former Minister of Finance Y. Kolobov and the former head of Ukrtelecom G. Dzekon were also added to the list. A Red Notice “seeks the location and arrest of wanted persons with a view to extradition or similar lawful action. The individuals concerned are wanted by national jurisdictions (or International Criminal Tribunals, where appropriate) and INTERPOL’s role is to assist national police forces in identifying or locating those individuals with a view to their arrest and extradition.”
4. Nadia Savchenko will not end hunger strike
The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG) reported that Ukrainian pilot and MP Nadia Savchenko, illegally imprisoned in Russia, passed on a letter via her lawyers, where she stated that she will not end her hunger strike. Savchenko, a Ukrainian air force pilot, who was serving in eastern Ukraine, was abducted by Kremlin-backed terrorists in mid-June and taken to Russia, where she has been illegally detained and imprisoned since that time. She was elected to Ukraine’s parliament in October. She began a hunger strike in protest of her illegal detention last month. Savchenko wrote in her letter “I want to reassure you that I have never been weak and never will be! They cannot break my spirit, […] I have taken the decision to go on hunger strike myself and nobody pushed me into it. I have given my word that ‘Until the day I return to Ukraine, or until the last day of my life in Russia!’ and I will not back down, otherwise what value would my words have?!I will get through! Thank you for believing in me!” The full letter in is available in English at http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1421072303
5. Commission for appointment of Director of Anti-corruption Bureau announces competition for post
The press office of the President of Ukraine reported that the Commission for appointment of the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau announced the opening of the competition for the post. Applicants must have Ukrainian citizenship (by the end of the process), have a law degree and 10 years of professional experience, including at least 5 years in government or international organizations, and must speak Ukrainian.
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