Stones, bottles thrown as pro-, anti-Russian protesters clash in Crimea
Bottles, stones and flags flew in the air as thousands of pro- and anti-Russian demonstrators clashed in front of the parliament building in Simferopol, the capital of Ukraine's autonomous Crimea region. ● Tension between the rival groups rallying next to one another intensified after hours of demonstrating, with people wielding Russian, Ukrainian, Crimean and Crimean Tatar flags getting involved in clashes. Demonstrators slammed each other with flags and threw stones as leaders on both sides urged their followers to avoid provocations. The rival groups are protesting for and against the new national authorities in Kiev. Part of the residents proclaimed that Crimea are not going to obey Kiev, while the local Muslim community of Crimean Tatars expressed support for the new Ukrainian authorities. Two separate rallies, consisting of several thousands of protesters, are facing each other. Russians are shouting “Russia-Russia!” and “Berkut!”, the name of the special police task force disbanded yesterday by the new Ukrainian authorities, who blame them for heavy-handed policing of opposition activists in recent months in central Kiev. The Muslim community protesters are shouting “Ukraine-Ukraine!” and “Crimea is not Russia!” Pro-Russian demonstrators are holding Russian flags, while Tatars are holding Ukrainian flags and flags of their own nationalist organizations. Video footage from the scene appears to show that both sides are preparing for a clash. The police officers who temporarily left the scene have now returned to the square and are attempting to separate the two sides.
Russian Troops Take Up Positions In Sevastopol As Ukraine Teeters On The Brink Of Civil War
RT.com: Putin orders ‘combat readiness’ tests for western, central Russian troops
События возле Верховной Рады Крыма 26.02.2014
Israel Shamir: The Brown Revolution of the Ukraine
Pepe Escobar: Will NATO annex Ukraine?