Slovakia is monitoring the border with Ukraine, preparing to respond to the escalating situation if necessary.
The Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Ministry released a statement on Tuesday stating their shock regarding the latest eruption of violence in Kiev, Ukraine which has so far claimed the lives of 25 people, according to the Sme daily. The Slovak ministry asked all involved to exercise restraint and observe the right of the public to assemble. “Confrontation which involves the use of force cannot serve as an instrument of politics”, stated the ministry’s press department, instead calling for dialogue to resolve the escalating crisis. Protests in the Ukrainian capital escalated yesterday with protestors igniting a wall of wood and tyres to keep riot police at bay, while throwing stones and other material from their side of the flaming barrier. The subway in Kiev has been shut down and according to official information at least twenty people have been killed, with the Interior Ministry confirming that at least nine of the dead were police officers killed by gunshot wounds. The total number of injured has so far exceeded a thousand, with dozens listed as being in critical condition. The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajčák tweeted last night that, “Y/day tragic night in Kyiv shows authorities' tactics to wait out protests won't work. NOW! is time for real talks&CONCESSIONS on BOTH sides [sic]”.
