Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk calls for severely punishing those who plotted and committed a crime near the Verkhovna Rada building on Aug. 31.
“I am addressing the law enforcement agencies to say that the Criminal Code articles [under which the Aug. 31 events near the Verkhovna Rada have been qualified] carry life sentences for those who committed this inhuman act and therefore I am asking the law enforcement agencies to take every measure so that they be put in jail,” Yatsenyuk said when opening a Cabinet of ministers meeting on Sept. 2.
“The work being done by investigators from the Security Service, the Interior Ministry, and the Prosecutor General’s Office should result in passing materials to courts and holding all those who committed this crime liable without delay,” he said.
Yatsenyuk stressed that this means that all those who ordered, organized and perpetrated the crime must be brought to justice.
“I am asking the entire law enforcement system and the prosecution authorities to hold these people accountable and take all possible measures. These thugs need to be in jail,” he said.
Yatsenyuk said the government has already issued orders on paying financial compensation to the families of the policemen and National Guard servicemen who were killed, and to those who were injured while maintaining order near the Verkhovna Rada on Aug. 31.
It was reported earlier that the Verkhovna Rada had passed a presidential bill on amending the constitution regarding the decentralization of power at the first reading by 265 votes on Aug. 31.
Soon after that, protesters rallying against the bill started clashes with law enforcement officials near the Rada. As a result of the clashes and the explosion of a grenade thrown at the law enforcement officials three National Guard members have been killed and several others severely injured. A total of over 140 servicemen and civilians, including members of the press, were injured in the unrest.
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov blamed the Svoboda association and its leader Oleh Tiahnybok for the clashes. “I directly blame Oleh Tiahnybok and his Svoboda party. I consider it a crime rather than a political position,” he said.
Tiahnybok said in response, “The fact that Avakov “appointed those guilty” so promptly indicates one thing, namely that he was the one who plotted the provocation.”
The Interior Ministry has summoned about 30 people, including Svoboda leaders and active members, for questioning as part of a criminal investigation into the incident.
