About 1,000 people opposed to Ukraine's new government gathered outside the headquarters in Donetsk of the regional police authority on April 12 and demanded the dismissal of regional police chief Kostiantyn Pozhydayev.
An Interfax correspondent reported from the scene that about 20 uniformed men who had served in the disbanded Berkut riot police force came out of a bus that had driven up to the building. They were wearing bullet-proof vests and maroon berets. Some of them had ribbons of St. George tied to their bullet-proof vests.
One of the men, apparently the group’s leader, said: “Berkut has always been with the people. We have never betrayed you, nor will we ever do.” Those present met his words with cheers.
After that, the ex-Berkut servicemen returned to the bus and went away.
