By late February 2014, around 100 protesters had been killed during the EuroMaidan demonstrations in Kyiv. Ukraine’s Berkut riot police, who had been standing off against the protesters for three months, were largely considered responsible. After being appointed acting Minister of Internal Affairs, Arsen Avakov announced the dissolution of the Berkut special police division on Feb. 25.
EuroMaidan Revolution
Hromadske: How ex-Berkut officer tied to EuroMaidan crimes ended up in new police
Berkut riot police officers attack anti-govenment protesters on the European Square in central Kyiv on Nov. 25, 2013. Backed by black-clad regular riot police, the blue-and-gray uniformed Berkut were involved in the most brutal attempts to suppress the protests that eventually drove former President Viktor Yanukovych from power.
