BALTIMORE, Marylalnd April 3, 2014 - The interim Ukraine Government today alleged that Russian Intelligence Operatives stoked the violence that racked the Euromaidan Demonstrations in February and led directly to at least 100 deaths. Russia denies the charges.
Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was also implicated in a much-anticipated report on who was responsible for the deaths and injuries which resulted when the Euromaidan Demonstrations that held sway in Kiev's Independence Square for months suddenly turned violent. The report identifies one of Russia's intelligence arms, the "FSB." as having direct involvement. Le Figaro in Paris reported yesterday, quoting Ukrainian Security Secretary Nalivaïtchenko Valentin, that "the FSB participated in the planning and implementation of the so-called terrorist operation."
FSB is, indeed, one of Russia's most important security agencies, but its work is amost always confined to internal Russian tasks. It is not thought of as a likely agency to be involved when the work is outside of Russia proper, according to Wikipedia. Army General Aleksandr Bortnikov is said to the Director of FSB.
According to the Ukrainian report, Russia smuggled an arms shipment to police loyal to Yanukovych on January 20 of this year. Some armories and arsenals had been vandalized by pro-Euromaidan demonstrators. Then, on February 20, snipers not in police uniforms, but instead dressed in all black, fanned out in downtown Kiev, especially along Institoutskaïa Street. Other snipers, similarly attired, were in hidden positions, the report said. The report cited interviews with media representatives for this piece of information. The people interviewed said these individuals had not been seen before February 20. The demonstrators, which had increased in numbers and in organization, had virtually occupied Institoutskaïa Street in the days and weeks before February 20.
Suddenly the snipers opened fire on groups of demonstrators. After the snipers had opened fire, felling many people, police in riot gear charged into the crowd and regained areas that had been lost to demonstrators during previous days and weeks.
In addition to releasing the report, the Paris newspaper Le Monde reported that approximately one dozen members of the Berkut police unit have been arrested in connection with the 100-plus deaths. Oleg Makhnitski, Ukraine's Prosecutor General, said that among other things those arrested are charged with the illegal distribution of weapons, including "sniper rifles."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov personally dismissed the report. In addition, he characterized the Euromaidan movement as being made up of "ultranationalists". He said the deaths were all caused by the Euromaidan Movement, which plotted with a certain foreign "embassy" which he did not identify. However, Russian officials, including Lavrov and Russian Strong Man Vladimir Putin has previously and repeatedly accused the United States as having instigated the violence. While not repeating that charge yesteday, Lavrov reminded those present of the audio recording that has surfaced between Lady Catherine Ashton of the United Kingdom and Estonian Minister Urmas Pact. In the conversation, which was recorded secretly and without the knowledge of the participants, the two discuss reports that snipers from the Euromaidan Movement fired on unarmed demonstrators, apparently in an effort to rally blame against Yanukovych and his Russian backers. Lady Ashton had visited Kiev in December, 2013 in a show of solidarity with Euromaidan.
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