You're reading: Protesters seize broadcaster in Donetsk

Pro-Russian protestors occupied the building of the regional state broadcasting company on April 27 after a rally on holding an independence referendum on May 11.

Although the
building was defended by about thirty law enforcement officers, they reportedly
did nothing as the protestors broke through the gate and planted the flag of
the People’s Republic of Donetsk, Zerkalo nedeli reported. No one was hurt in the
incident.

Alexander
Vassiliev, a leader of the People’s Republic of Donetsk, said that the
self-proclaimed republic might begin broadcasting its own television programs.

Reportedly, the
attack was initiated by one of the rally speakers, who complained that members
of the self-proclaimed republic were not being given a voice on the air. According
to various estimates, the protesters numbered 300-1000.

The
self-proclaimed governor of Donetsk Denis Pushylin said at the rally, “We’ll
get sovereignty and with it we can decide to on federalism with any country or
not.”

About 500
protestors marched to the building, vandalizing property along the way and
chanting “Slavyansk- Hero City”, “Republic”, “Kyiv does not decree to Donetsk”,
and “Russia”.

Pro-Russian separatists
tried to storm the regional state broadcasting company on April 7 at the same
time as they seized the Oblast State Administration and Security Services of Ukraine
buildings, but they were thwarted by the guards.

On April 26
separatists seized the SBU building in neighboring Horlivka and captured three
SBU officers.

Kyiv Post business journalist Evan Ostryzniuk can
be reached at [email protected]