Ukraine's Nationalists Continue Protest at Parliament
Ukraine's interim president, Oleksandr Turchynov, has condemned the ultra-nationalist Right Sector after it protested outside parliament, saying the group is bent on "destabilization."
Nationalist groups have fueled Russian propaganda claims that Nazis and fascists are in control in Kyiv, an excuse Moscow used to annex Crimea. Many Ukrainians want to see them off the streets and quickly integrated into mainstream institutions.
Ukrainian nationalists protested outside parliament Friday waiting for a vote to remove Interior Minister Arsen Avakov from his post. One radical group, Right Sector, blames the minister for the shooting death of one of its more militant leaders this week in western Ukraine.
'Self-defense forces'
Dressed in military fatigues, some wore flak jackets and carried clubs, riot shields and even hatchets.
Ukraine's self-defense forces, formed during recent anti-government protests, lined up at the main entrance to prevent provocation.
The night before, enraged nationalists marched to the parliament demanding Avakov's immediate resignation. Some in the crowd tried to break into the building before parliamentarians calmed them down, promising a vote on whether he should keep his job.
On Friday, the vote was cancelled and an investigation promised, but radicals in the crowd reacted remarkably calmly.
Right Sector East political head Kiva Ilya said they only want justice.
Our task is to maintain calm and not to make the Russian government see the situation in Ukraine as out of control," he said. "The 'Right Sector' is on the side of law in all our actions.
See the article here: