Interior Minister of Ukraine Anatoliy Mohyliov has said the police are checking whether members of the public have obtained weapons illegally.
"The Interior Ministry are really keeping themselves informed about this, we’re checking this. We really do have a large volume of illegal weapons, and this fact is being checked," the minister told MPs when asked if the Interior Ministry has information concerning the president’s claims that mass purchases of weapons are being made in the country.
He said that today the checks were being completed, criminal cases had been opened in each case and suspects were facing charges.
The law enforcement agencies have reported the purchase of weapons in the country and preparations being made to attack the authorities, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said at the sitting of the parliament on Wednesday.
"The law enforcement agencies tell me that purchases of weapons and preparations for armed attacks against state authorities are now going on," Yanukovych said.
"Tell me, please, have people lost their fear and conscience? So who is organizing it? Not those [people] who are living in the worst conditions of all. People who are facing hard times keep silent, suffer and wait," the president said.
