LB.ua chronicles the latest events in Ukraine in English for foreign readers.
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On January 16 The Verkhovna Rada adopted more than a dozen of controversial amendments to the law 'On the Judicial System and Status of Judges' and the procedural laws regarding additional measures to protect the safety of citizens. Most opposition politicians, international organizations and European countries consider these laws a violation of basic constitutional rights of 45 million citizens of Ukraine.
On Sunday, January 19, clashes broke out between Euromaidan protesters and police on Hrushevskoho Street in the centre of Kyiv, after radical protesters decided to break through the police cordon in the direction of the Government House and the Verkhovna Rada.
Police used stun and gas grenades, as well as tear gas. Protesters threw stones at the enforcers. Unrest on Hrushevskoho Street continues for the fourth day.
00:50. Three Euromaidan activists, detained on January 20, have been charged with violation of Art. 294 of the Criminal Code - participation in the riots. Darnytsia district court in Kyiv sentenced all three activists for two months in jail.
Yukhim Dishkanta and two of his friends, Arthur Moskalets and Dmitry Kovalchuk, were arrested on January 20 on Lavrska Street. Before that they were attacked by 'titushki' (sporty looking young people in black clothes who participate in AntiMaidan activities) on the same street. 'Titushki' broke Arthur's nose and after that a group of those young people led them deep into a park near a monument to the victims of Holodomor ('death by hunger') and made them sit on a bench.
'They made a call. A car arrived in some time. Two of us were put in the luggage compartment, and another one - to the salon. There was already one person. Along the way they searched us. Arthur was hit twice in the head. They drove us to Desnyansky district police office', said Moskalets.
01:18. Public activist Igor Lutsenko, who was allegedly kidnapped this morning and then got out of the forest near Kyiv, where he was brought and thrown by his kidnappers, is undergoing medical examination in 'Boris' clinic at the moment.
His lawyer Eugenia Zakrevskaya told LB.ua that his internal organs had been damaged. He also has an eye injury, three of his teeth knocked out and multiple bruises on the body. He can hardly walk because his kidnappers had beaten him on legs and heels.
Journalists were not allowed to talk to him, but police officials were.
01:37. Automaidan activists liquidated 'titushkas' camp on a new Obukhov highway. They dismantled a tent belonging to 'titushki' and dispersed the guys who lived in it.
Approximately 20 'titushek' fled in the direction of a railway situated nearby. Still, activists managed to detain two of the young men. Later they'll be brought to House of Trade Unions in Kyiv for questioning.
02:20. Police used water cannons against protests on Hrushevskoho Street in Kyiv.
The temperature in Kyiv is about minus 10 degrees Celsius.
03:25. Guy brutally beaten by 'Berkut' riot police fighters at a Colonnade of Dynamo Stadium died on Tuesday evening because of the injuries incompatible with life. He had multiple fractures, in particular fracture of the cervical spine.
In particular, he said: 'In Bishkek, the capital was burned, the whole centre was burned. Do we want this? That's why we stand here. Because those thugs can do anything behind these simple normal people who came to speak about their everyday concerns'.
03:50. Students of the National University of theatre, cinema and television of Karpenko-Kary have cancelled action under Podolsky detention facility in support of six of their fellow students, which was to be held in the morning on January 22.
According to Facebook post by journalist Tatiana Danilenko, unidentified men in civilian clothes came to the students' dormitory and tried to detain one of the students of the university by attacking and beating him. The guy managed to escape.
04:15. Unidentified men, presumably 'titutshki' (AntiMaidan activits) torched car 'Daewoo Lanos' on Reytarskaya Street in the centre of Kyiv. according to AutoMaidan activists, it wasn't the first case when 'titushki' smashed windows of the cars parked in the centre and threw Molotov cocktail into the car.
According to reports on AutoMaidan page in Facebook, 'titushki' cover themselves and their cars with ribbons used by Euromaidan activist in order not to be detected.
05:00. Conflict on Hrushevskoho street escalated once again in the morning. Although the whole night till now has passed quietly.
About half past four in the morning opposition protesters threw a few Molotov cocktails at the police. In twenty minutes the law enforcers replied by shooting people on the barricades and throwing gas grenades in their direction.
Also, law enforcement officers used a big searchlight that shined at the demonstrators.
05:28. On Wednesday night Euromaidan self-defence troops in Kyiv identified a large base of 'titushki' in a dormitory on Shcherbakova Street.
Leader of the group hiding on Shcherbakova was brought to Independence Square, where he said that 'titushki' in the dormitory were from Poltava and Kremenchug. They rented rooms for 100 people.
06:20. A few thousand of opposition protesters were on Hrushevskoho street this night. It was relatively quiet. A few times conflict escalated. Thus, radical protesters threw Molotov cocktails at the police, and the law enforcers responded with stun grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas.
07:15. A few 'titushki' of those who flooded Kyiv were detained by Euromaidan activists this night.
One of them in the House of Trade Unions told that he arrived to Kyiv from Krivoy Rog 'simply to stand with the flag'. He said he was promised 200-300 UAH ($25-35) for a day of such standing by some representatives of the ruling Party of Regions.
07:50. Euromadian Chief Medical Officer confirmed the death of one of the participants of the clashes on Hrushevskoho Street. According to him, young man received four gunshot wounds. He died around 06:00 am. Doctors believe he was shot by a sniper.
08:08. 'Berkut' riot police attacked Euromaidan protesters on Hrushevskoho street.
'Berkut' and internal troops fighters detain and beat demonstrators and lead them behind their cordon.
People were not ready for the attack, as they were shocked by the death of a man who had been shot by police.
08:26. The Interior Ministry confirmed the death of a young men on Hrushevskoho Street from a gunshot wound.
The press secretary of the Interior Ministry Sergey Burlakov said the police, located on Hrushevskoho Street has no firearms.
08:31. Law enforcers retreated to their former positions on Hrushevskoho Street after opposition protesters launched a counterattack.
08:58. There is a massive arrival of buses in Pechersk district of Kyiv, where the government quarter is located.
'Thousands of 'titushki' are walking along Pechersk. In organized colonies', posted the opposition party 'UDAR' lawmaker Irina Gerashchenko in 'Facebook'.
Several hundred activists with sticks and helmets have gathered on the barricades on Khreschatyk and Instytutska Streets.
09:11. Another opposition protester has been shot on Hrushevskoho Street, reported EspressoTV journalist referring to the medical service.
According to him, a sniper shot from the sixth floor of one of the houses on Hrushevskoho Street. It is reported that both this and the previous demonstrator were killed by headshots.
09:20. According to 'Interfax-Ukraine' sources in the Interior Ministry, 'Berkut' started the offensive against opposition activists on Hrushevskoho street because of a new composition of Molotov cocktails, which they threw at security forces.
09:30. One of the young men shot dead on Hrushevskoho Street was 20-year-old Sergei Nigoyan - active Euromaidan participant Evromaydana (was in self-defense of the tent city on Independence Square).
It is reported that one of the bullets hit the guy in the head, and another one in the neck.
09:45. About 200 Euromaidan activist suffered gunshot wounds on Hrushevskoho Street.
09:50. Prescheduled session of the Verkhovna Rada, which supposedly was to be held tomorrow, January 23, won't take place, reports LB.ua referring to it own sources in the ruling Party of Regions.
09:57. The cause of death of the second protester on Hrushevskoho Street was a direct hit to the heart, told an eyewitness of the incident to 'Radio Svoboda' ('Radio Liberty').
10:03. Demonstrators came close to security forces cordon on Hrushevskoho Street.
10:16. 'Espresso.TV' journalist has been detained by 'Berkut' riot police fighters during the confrontation on Hrushevskoho Street, while performing his professional duties.
10:17. The scandalous laws adopted by The Verkhovna Rada on Januart 16 entered into force.
10:43. Ambassadors of the United Kingdom and Germany openly criticized the meeting with the Minister of Justice of Ukraine Elena Lukash and Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara relatively recent developments on Hrushevskoho Street in Kyiv. This happened after the ambassadors were not given the floor at the meeting.
10:45. Prime Minister Nykolai Azarov said he was sorry for the victims among opposition protesters on Hrushevskoho Street, but its their own fault.
'Rioters can not be called peaceful. They are criminals who violate order. I officially declare that these victims are on the conscience and responsibility of the troublemakers. I demand that the authorities immediately investigate this issue', said Azarov at the opening session of the government.
11:03. In response to the actions against protesters on Independence Square in November and December of the last year, the U.S. Embassy cancelled the visas of several Ukrainian citizens related to the use of force.
11:08. The district courts of Kyiv at the request of investigators and prosecutors chose a preventive measure in the form of detention to the first ten suspects in the riots on Hrushevskoho Street, according to a statement issued by the press service of the prosecutor's office in Kyiv.
11:21. The opposition party 'UDAR' leader Vitali Klitschko urges President Viktor Yanukovich to clear the streets off riot police and begin negotiations immediately.
11:50. Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said that earlier he told President Viktor Yanukovich everything he had to say. He said it was obvious that the Ukrainian authorities intend to use power to resolve the political conflict.
11:58. 'Berkut' and internal troops began pushing protesters aside with their shields. Law enforcers under the cover of shields dismantled a large barricade set by Euromaidan activists.
12:18. 'Berkut' and interior troops dismantled a barricade on Hrushevskoho Street.
12:20. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich took part in a festive prayer service at Kyiv Pechersk Lavra on the occasion of the Day of Unification and Freedom.
12:24. The opposition 'Svoboda' faction leader Oleg Tyagnibok have announced a national mobilization, as the opposition has exhausted all possibilities for a peaceful solution of the political crisis.
12:29. 'Berkut' and internal troops move along Hrushevskoho Street under the cover of shields. They move slowly. Demonstrators throw stones at law enforcers.
12:34. 'Berkut' and internal troops cleared Hrushevskoho Street off the protesters. During the attack they dismantled the barricades.
Opposition protesters retreated to Independence Square.
12:38. 'Berkut' cleared Hrushevskoho Street off opposition protesters up to European Square. Now it's stepping back to Dynamo Stadium. Riot police fighters are followed by the protesters.
12:57. 'Berkut' riot police beat and detained several demonstrators on Hrushevskoho Street. Two of them were beaten and taken behind the cordon of security forces.
12:58. Two men have been carried away by ambulances from European Square. Their faces were covered in blood, they both were unconscious. One of them has journalist's license.
13:08. President Viktor Yanukovich has instructed law enforcers to thoroughly investigate the deaths of protesters on Hrushevskoho Street in Kyiv and called on the opposition to start negotiations.
13:12. More and more 'Berlut' riot police fighters are gathering near Dynamo Stadium on Hrushevskoho Street.
13:24. 'Berkut' arrested at least 40 people after the today's attack.
13:37. Court seized bank accounts of the public organizations 'Social responsibility' and 'Kyivites - for reforms', which raised money for Euromaidan.
13:40. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton calls on the Ukrainian authorities and protesters to immediately stop violence in Kyiv.
13:44. An armoured vehicle drove to Hrushevkoho Street. At the moment its' standing behind security forces cordon.
14:00. Investigation department of Pechersk district police department opened criminal proceedings into the death of two people under Part 1 of Article 115 of the Criminal Code (murder).
14:12. Russian State Duma deputies voted for the statement on Ukraine. 388 deputies supported call on Western politicians not to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states.
The State Duma has blamed Western countries and extremist opposition on the situation in Ukraine.
14:21. President Viktor Yanukovich began meeting with the leaders of the opposition parliamentary factions in the Presidential Administration.
14:28. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called on all parties of the conflict in Ukraine to refrain from violence.
Journalists were broadcasting from the stairs leading to the library.
According to orders number 13 and number 14, adopted on January 22, from now on law enforcers are allowed to use aerosol grenades 'Drift 2', light and sound grenades 'Flame-M', 'Torch - C' and 'Dawn -2', as well as hand-held smoke grenades 'Lilac-3' for the 'protection of public order'.
Besides, order number 13 defines the procedure for applying water cannons 'to prevent riots and group violations of public order, to reflect attacks on buildings, premises, facilities and vehicles regardless of their affiliation, to protect citizens and to protect themselves from attacks and other acts that endanger their life, health, housing or property'.
'Today you are carrying a heavy cross and the Church will stay with you to the end, just as Simon Kirineysky helped Christ carry the cross to Golgotha.
14:58. Two corpses were found in the vicinity of the village Gnedin in Boryspil district of Kyiv region, reported ZN.UA.
According to this information, there were signs of torture on the bodies, and their heads were wrapped with tape.
Local district policeman confirmed the discovery of one body and the information about signs of torture on it.
15:07. The second men shot dead on Hrushevskoho Street may be a native of Belarus Mikhail Zhiznevsky.
15:24. Parents whose children study in schools in Pechersk district of Kyiv, where the government quarter is located, are getting phone calls from headteachers asking them to pick up their children before 16:00. Many teachers say they've been warned that metro stations will be closed at this time.
According to LB.ua readers, suspension of metro operations may be connected with a possible final sweep of Euromaidan camp on Kyiv's Independence Square.
15:40. Opposition lawmakers received court summons regarding blocking the rostrum in the Verkhovna Rada, told the opposition party 'UDAR' deputy Sergey Kaplin to LB.ua.
15:53. Man, who fell from a colonnade near Dynamo Stadium yesterday, is alive, said head physician of Kyiv City Clinical Hospital № 17 Nikolai Demin.
He added that the man, who is 43 years old, is alive and can walk, and his condition is almost satisfactory.
15:54. The secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada, as well as technicians, assistants and committees in the parliament were sent home at 13:00, according to 'UDAR' lawmaker Irina Gerashchenko post in Facebook.
16:10. Events on Hrushevskoho Street on January 19-22 in photos and video (constantly updated).
16:13. Law enforcers urged Ukrainians to stay away from Independence Square. According to the press service of the Interior Ministry, due to the recent events in the centre of Kyiv, there is a big chance to be injured.