Digest of events 13.05.2014

Konstantin Dolgov fled to Crimea and promised a referendum in Kharkiv

Ideologist of Kharkiv separatists Konstantin Dolgov, who had been released on bail, held a press conference on Tuesday in Crimea, as he posted on his Facebook page.

«These days referendums were held in Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Donetsk and Lugansk people and following on the path of the Crimeans. I would really like Kharkiv to be the next on the way to liberation from the power of the fascist junta that came to power on the people's blood, «- said Dolgov at a press conference in Crimea. Dolgov intends to return to Kharkiv soon to continue his resistance to Kiev authorities.

As known, on April 20 Konstantin Dolgov was detained on suspicion of arson of ATMs. And on May 8 he was released on bail of 365 thousand UAH, provided on the initiative of a deputy Oleg Tsarev.

At today's press conference Dolgov said that, besides Tsarev's help, his release from jail happened due to Sergey Aksenov, Acting Head of self-proclaimed Republic of Crimea.

Kharkiv region fenced off with checkpoints from Lugansk region

According to the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in the north of Lugansk region new Ukrainian checkpoints have been set. Due to the unrest in the region, the authorities fear that the security of Kharkiv region might be in danger, as here, unlike in Donetsk and Lugansk, on May 11 separatist «referendum» did not take place.

On May 13 he head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov visited new checkpoints.

It was Mr. Avakov who said that new checkpoints will be an obstacle for terrorists who want to penetrate Kharkiv region. The situation at checkpoints is calm, the local population supports the Ukrainian military.

Yulia Tymoshenko visited Kharkiv region

This morning Yulia Tymoshenko visited Valkovsky district of Kharkiv region where she met with voters and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

In the afternoon she presented her program of reforming the judicial system of Ukraine at a meeting with her supporters at the Palace of Students of Kharkiv National Law Academy. In particular, Yulia Tymoshenko proposes to abolish the Constitutional Court, as well as Administrative and Economic Courts and give the people the opportunity to choose the judges.

Just while Tymoshenko was giving her speech at the microphone explaining the points of the election program in the crowd there was raised the poster «Kachanovskaya colony is waiting for you».

In response, a group of Tymoshenko's supporters rushed to the provocateurs with shouts «Yulia is our president!», and snatched the poster. The police took the instigators of the scandal aside before any fight might have started. The order at the meeting was provided by more than one hundred law enforcers.

Tymoshenko gave a press conference at which, among other things, criticized the fact of National Roundtable that is to be held in Kiev on May 14.

Gennadiy Kernes: the talks about decentralization of power must be followed by actions

«The referendums in Donetsk and Lugansk regions must motivate the authorities to use legal methods of expression and support the people's initiative”,- said Kharkiv Mayor Gennadiy Kernes in a telephone interview on the air in talk show «Freedom of speech» (ICTV).

«In Kharkiv, there was no referendum due to a big explanatory work in terms of action in the legal field. But those people who came to a referendum in Donetsk and Lugansk... Everyone has the right to express their point of view and it does not mean that they shouldn’t be seen and heard. In my opinion, today a substitution of concepts takes place, where,on the one hand, it is stressed the decentralization of power and the role of local government that leads to people taking power into their own hands, but on the other hand, the authorities are suppressing all these attempts», – Mayor explained.

Gennady Kernes confirmed that considers the motive to assassinate him as a political one. «Kharkiv got its attraction for those who wanted the separation of Ukraine, and I have been standing for integrity of the country. Therefore, the attempt on my life has a quite definite subtext”, – he said.

Kharkiv authorities are against an ubiquitous placement of Ukrainian symbolism

Kharkiv municipal government does not support the initiative of Kharkiv dwellers, who that paint Ukrainian symbolism on the walls, pillars, trees and poles. According to the Director of the Department of Public Utilities Victor Kitanin, state flag is a symbol of the country and it should be treated reverently. 

«If people who want to decorate our city approached us, we would have invited artists and architects, and found the place where this could be done to improve the appearance of our city,» – he said.

Arsenal of weapon was confiscated from a Kharkiv region resident

The man had been keeping at home a carbine, grenades, ammunition of various calibers, smoke bombs. In particular, Security Service of Ukraine together with the police found a carbine «Mauser» MP 98, 2 grenades «F-1», more than 500 of ammunition. Now there is being decided the issue of registration in the Unified Register of pre-trial investigation of criminal proceedings under Part 1 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives), the press service of SSU informs.

Law enforcers are ready for provocations during elections

The police are ready to provide the security of elections and free will of citizens. This was stated by Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov during his working visit to Kharkiv. «We clearly understand that there will be provocations, we are getting ready for that,» – said the Minister. According to Mr. Avakov, law enforcers intend to apply to the Central Election Commission and the Parliament with the request to allow the presence of police units at polling stations during the vote count.