You're reading: Foreign Ministry: Ukrainian government never considered introduction of state of emergency

The possibility of introducing state of emergency in Ukraine due to the sharpening of the political situation in the country has never been considered, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara has said.

“I have not heard that the issue was raised. Such issues should be
considered in public, and it has not been raised anywhere,” the minister
said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine on December 12.

He also noted the political situation in Ukraine impacts the country’s global stature.

“Many statements have been made and resolutions passed. Their main
point is that practically everyone supports Ukraine’s European course,
as does the government,” Kozhara said.

The minister also said that the international community has condemned
the actions of the police on Independence Square on the night of
November 30. At the same time, he said that profile agencies were
investigating the incident and promised that those guilty will be
punished.

“The Prosecutor General’s Office is holding an investigation and I
wish it to be completed as soon as possible. I, as the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, issued a statement a few days ago calling for a
quick and fair investigation into this case,” he said.

When asked if he had visited Maidan [Independence Square] recently,
the minister said: “No, I did not go to Maidan. I have many reasons for
this.”

“First of all, I won’t go to Maidan, although many slogans of the
protesters are clear and close to me, as it’s a part of my work. But I
won’t go there, because today the opposition leads Maidan, unlike the
first days of Maidan when it was a people’s protest,” the minister said.

He also said that the opposition manipulates the Euromaidan in many
issues, inflames passions, while he does not want to become a
participant of the events that look more like anti-governmental actions.

“In addition, I don’t have time for or this, everything is scheduled to the minute,” he said.