VIDEO: Ukraine's uncertain future: New government delayed with unclear direction

[Coyotl]

http://news.yahoo.com/video/ukraines-uncertain-future-government-delayed-132702370-cbs.html

Ukraine's uncertain future: New government delayed with unclear direction
CBS This Morning | 2:30 mins

Legislators in Ukraine voted on Tuesday to let an international court put the county's deposed president, Victor Yanukovich, on trial. The acting president of Ukraine says there are "dangerous signs" that Ukraine may split apart. CBS News' Holly Williams reports.

[rdharma]

1. "Parliament guarded by masked men with clubs"......

"The same hard core protesters who fought with riot police."

This is not good.

[Coyotl]

2. The good news, there still is a parliament. Some semblance of democracy survives.

[Coyotl]

3. Is the U.S. Backing Neo-Nazis in Ukraine?

Is the U.S. Backing Neo-Nazis in Ukraine?
Exposing troubling ties in the U.S. to overt Nazi and fascist protesters in Ukraine.
February 24, 2014 | http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/us-backing-neo-nazis-ukraine

As the Euromaidan protests in the Ukrainian capitol of Kiev culminated this week, displays of open fascism and neo-Nazi extremism became too glaring to ignore. Since demonstrators filled the downtown square to battle Ukrainian riot police and demand the ouster of the corruption-stained, pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovich, it has been filled with far-right streetfighting men pledging to defend their country’s ethnic purity.

White supremacist banners and Confederate flags were draped inside Kiev’s occupied City Hall, and demonstrators have hoisted Nazi SS and white power symbols over a toppled memorial to V.I. Lenin. After Yanukovich fled his palatial estate by helicopter, EuroMaidan protesters destroyed a memorial to Ukrainians who died battling German occupation during World War II. Sieg heil salutes and the Nazi Wolfsangel symbol have become an increasingly common site in Maidan Square, and neo-Nazi forces have established “autonomous zones” in and around Kiev.

An Anarchist group called AntiFascist Union Ukraine attempted to join the Euromaidan demonstrations but found it difficult to avoid threats of violence and imprecations from the gangs of neo-Nazis roving the square. “They called the Anarchists things like Jews, blacks, Communists,” one of its members said. “There weren’t even any Communists, that was just an insult.”

“There are lots of Nationalists here, including Nazis,” the anti-fascist continued. “They came from all over Ukraine, and they make up about 30% of protesters.”

One of the “Big Three” political parties behind the protests is the ultra-nationalist Svoboda, whose leader, Oleh Tyahnybok, has called for the liberation of his country from the “Muscovite-Jewish mafia.” .................

[Coyotl]

4. Does the Ukrainian Right want to reconquer Europe?

Apparently so, if we can believe what they are saying about themselves. Is this White Nazism all over again?

[pampango]

5. Give them some time. Yanukovych just ran away a few days ago.

I know they have tremendous economic problems and debts, but they don't seem to want to use one of the old corrupt leaders to head the government. So it might take a little while to find someone without a lot of part corruption baggage.

[pampango]

6. New government revealed at Kiev's protest camp

Ukraine's new interim government has been presented at Kiev's main protest camp, the Maidan, following last week's ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk has been nominated to become prime minister. The cabinet - due to be voted by MPs on Thursday - includes a number of Maidan activists.

It is facing daunting challenges, including fixing Ukraine's struggling economy which faces default.

Meanwhile, Mr Yanukovych has been put on the international wanted list. The fugitive president - whose whereabouts are unclear - is accused of being behind last week's deaths of more than 100 protesters at the hands of riot police at and around the Maidan.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26359150

[Comrade Grumpy]

7. Who was behind the deaths of the riot police, I wonder? And will they be charged?

[pampango]

8. If they really want to be considered a "European" country, they had better go after both

the police that killed demonstrators and the demonstrators that killed police. There were a lot more of the former than the latter, but they should be treated the same.

Ukraine must prosecute the perpetrators of demonstration deaths


Ukraine's Berkut riot police were responsible for many instances of use of excessive force amid the recent protests.

All those responsible for the deaths of more than 100 people killed during the anti-government protests in Ukraine must be brought to justice, said Amnesty International today. The call comes as plans were announced to disband the riot police unit that was allegedly responsible for the excessive force used against protesters.

“Moves to disband the riot police must not be used to allow the perpetrators of crimes off the hook. The Ukrainian authorities must not shirk their responsibility,” said Heather McGill, Amnesty International’s Ukraine researcher. “Each and every allegation must be investigated promptly, effectively and independently and any police officers found to be responsible must face criminal prosecutions.

It is clear that some protesters resorted to violence. However, the organization has documented many cases of peaceful protesters and bystanders being beaten and traumatically wounded by riot police officers. It is estimated that as many as 800 people were wounded during the demonstrations which started in November 2013.

Iryna Rabchenyuk, a peaceful bystander, was beaten by a riot police officer on 1 December 2013. The officer struck her once in the face with a baton causing traumatic injuries including a complex fracture of the nose, and possibly permanent loss of sight in one eye. Iryna Rabchenyuk and hundreds like her deserve justice.

Amnesty International has also documented several cases of peaceful protesters being attacked by pro-government vigilante groups. These groups, widely alleged to have links with the security forces, must be brought under control and prosecuted for their actions.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/ukraine-prosecute-perpetrators-protest-deaths-2014-02-26