There will be a tough response to attempts to destabilize the situation in Ukraine, especially in its eastern regions, the Interior Ministry said.
“The Interior Ministry warns representatives of public organizations and political parties about the unacceptability of organizing civil unrest and radical manifestations in all Ukrainian regions,” the ministry said on its Web site on Saturday.
The ministry called on public and political organizations, citizens’ groups and associations across the entire political spectrum: “Stop bringing militants onto the streets, stop calling for violence and aggression, stop provoking clashes!”
“The Interior Ministry will give a tough response to manifestations of deliberate destabilization, public order violations and mass disturbances across Ukraine, especially in the regions where special operations are under way to settle the situation and suppress manifestations of separatism: the Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions. Anyone violating the law will be arrested regardless of their declared slogans and party allegiance and have their measure of responsibility established by a court,” the statement said.
Organization of mass disturbances is considered a “grave” criminal offence, the ministry said.
“This crime entails a penalty in the form of five to eight years of imprisonment, and in the event of any participant being killed, the organizers’ responsibility could be between eight and 15 years of imprisonment.”
