A woman was hit in the face Saturday in Sevastopol as pro-Russians hurled stones at Ukrainian nationalists out in support of their candidate in forthcoming presidential elections, according to news wire reports.
More than 10 people were arrested on both sides after 50 supporters from the nationalist Svoboda movement gathered in the Black Sea port city to support Oleg Tiahnybok in the January 17 election, Radio Free Liberty reported on Dec. 26.
"Let’s fight against migration, let’s purify the nation" the Svoboda activists chanted, while around 100 pro-Russians threw stones and rotten vegetables, shouting "Down with the fascists".
The Crimea, with an overwhelmingly Russian-speaking population, was made part of Ukraine, then a Soviet republic, in 1954. It remains home to the Russian navy’s Black Sea fleet.
Svoboda Association leader Oleh Tiahnybok is a candidate in the presidential election due Jan. 17. His Svaboda Association website on Dec. 28 said the group was protesting against illegal immigration.
