Ukrainian Crisis: Autonimous Republic of Crimea has an army (and other news)
Today is International Women's Day, and tensions in Crimea continue to simmer.
Newly sworn-in member of Crimean military hold the Crimean flag (via Crimean Information Agency)
According to official ARC sources, members of the "self-defense forces" swore loyalty to Crimea, forming what is being billed as the republic's first military unit. None of the sources make it clear if they are "polite armed men" or actual citizens self-defense militias (the photos make me lean toward the later). The official statement said that they are "not the enemies of solders that swore an oath to Ukraine" and that they were there strictly for defense. According to the article, if the referendum on joining Russian Federation is successful, this unit will become part of Russian military.
Meanwhile, the Mejidis of Crimean Tatars is escalating the rhetoric. Its chairman wrote an open letter to Obama. Writing on behalf of Crimean Tatars and concerned Russians and Ukrainians, he claimed that there was a danger of ethnic cleansing against his people and basically urged the American president to intervene before its too late. And, on the civilian side, a group of Crimean Tatar women held a rally in Bakhchysarai, the historic capital of Crimean Khanate. They rallied against possibility of military escalation on the peninsula and voiced support for the Ukrainian soldiers.
Meanwhile, on the mainland Ukraine... I was about to write that the pro-Russian rally in the eastern Ukrainian Kharkov went peacefully, but then, Navigator is reporting that 7-8 masked men jumped out of the bus, fired and took off. It's not clear how many people were injured. The shooters are accused of being part of Right Sector and... honestly, I wouldn't put it past them.
Elsewhere on the mainland, sources within Ukrainian government say that the its prepared to investigate sniper killings that took place during Maidan protests. This requires a bit of background. During the protests, unknown snipers shot at the activists. At the time, it was assumed that Yanukovich's government was responsible. But a few days ago, in a recorded phone call leaked on the Internet, head of Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that a medical coroner in Kiev had evidence that suggests that opposition was behind it. The coroner in question since spoke out to indicate that it wasn't quite what she said, but there was still enough to cast reasonable doubt on who was behind the snipers.
The source indicates that it plans to form an investigative committee that would include members of all Ukrainian parties, including the previously pro-Yanukovich Party of Regions, as well as international experts. Which, if true, I would personally welcome. If it turns out that Yanukovich was behind it after all, he would need to be held responsible. And if it turns out that someone in the opposition was behind it... The simple fact of the matter is that innocent people died. They deserve justice, no matter where the investigation may lead.
Also in Ukraine, not far from Crimea, somebody shot at a border patrol plane. Nobody was hurt, and there doesn't seem to be enough evidence to really accuse anyone - though it hasn't stopped the Border Patrol from claiming Russian soldiers were responsible.
As always, this entry will be updated if any news comes in the next two hours, before Saturday ends according to Moscow time.
Newly sworn-in member of Crimean military hold the Crimean flag (via Crimean Information Agency)
According to official ARC sources, members of the "self-defense forces" swore loyalty to Crimea, forming what is being billed as the republic's first military unit. None of the sources make it clear if they are "polite armed men" or actual citizens self-defense militias (the photos make me lean toward the later). The official statement said that they are "not the enemies of solders that swore an oath to Ukraine" and that they were there strictly for defense. According to the article, if the referendum on joining Russian Federation is successful, this unit will become part of Russian military.
Meanwhile, the Mejidis of Crimean Tatars is escalating the rhetoric. Its chairman wrote an open letter to Obama. Writing on behalf of Crimean Tatars and concerned Russians and Ukrainians, he claimed that there was a danger of ethnic cleansing against his people and basically urged the American president to intervene before its too late. And, on the civilian side, a group of Crimean Tatar women held a rally in Bakhchysarai, the historic capital of Crimean Khanate. They rallied against possibility of military escalation on the peninsula and voiced support for the Ukrainian soldiers.
Meanwhile, on the mainland Ukraine... I was about to write that the pro-Russian rally in the eastern Ukrainian Kharkov went peacefully, but then, Navigator is reporting that 7-8 masked men jumped out of the bus, fired and took off. It's not clear how many people were injured. The shooters are accused of being part of Right Sector and... honestly, I wouldn't put it past them.
Elsewhere on the mainland, sources within Ukrainian government say that the its prepared to investigate sniper killings that took place during Maidan protests. This requires a bit of background. During the protests, unknown snipers shot at the activists. At the time, it was assumed that Yanukovich's government was responsible. But a few days ago, in a recorded phone call leaked on the Internet, head of Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that a medical coroner in Kiev had evidence that suggests that opposition was behind it. The coroner in question since spoke out to indicate that it wasn't quite what she said, but there was still enough to cast reasonable doubt on who was behind the snipers.
The source indicates that it plans to form an investigative committee that would include members of all Ukrainian parties, including the previously pro-Yanukovich Party of Regions, as well as international experts. Which, if true, I would personally welcome. If it turns out that Yanukovich was behind it after all, he would need to be held responsible. And if it turns out that someone in the opposition was behind it... The simple fact of the matter is that innocent people died. They deserve justice, no matter where the investigation may lead.
Also in Ukraine, not far from Crimea, somebody shot at a border patrol plane. Nobody was hurt, and there doesn't seem to be enough evidence to really accuse anyone - though it hasn't stopped the Border Patrol from claiming Russian soldiers were responsible.
As always, this entry will be updated if any news comes in the next two hours, before Saturday ends according to Moscow time.