Protests against the Ukrainian Government’s decision to halt its EU-integration efforts have already claimed civilian lives. Due to unrest in the Ukrainian capital Kiev so far five persons were killed and approximately 300 wounded according to the information coordinator of the health care services Oleg Musij gave to the radio station Hromadske radio.
However, the Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov says that the police officers dealing with protesters don't carry firearms and the Interior Ministry backed him up, denying the use of firearms by the police. On Wednesday President Viktor Yanukovych met for three hours with leaders of the opposition, however with no results - this is how the opposition leaders interpreted it to the masses. They are calling for the government to step down and the ban on protesting to be lifted.
Pavol Hamžík, former Slovak diplomat to Ukraine, evaluates the situation in the country, saying:
„This dramatic situation is making it easier for people as they have the possibility to choose. I think the opposition is gaining through this situation and I think it has a chance of winning the Presidential elections. I think that the currently ruling regime and President Viktor Yanukovych do not stand a chance of winning the elections in a fair manner.”
Says the former Slovak diplomat deployed in Ukraine, talking about the current situation there and about the upcoming presidential elections in 2015. Also commenting on the recent events in Ukraine were Slovak politicians. On Wednesday Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that he is shocked by the developments in the country and deems the deaths of protesters after the security forces intervened in Kiev completely unacceptable. “I appeal to all protesters to refrain from violence. Equally, however, I urge the Ukrainian authorities and all those involved to respect the right of citizens to assemble”, stated Prime Minister Fico. In his words, not force nor confrontation, but rather dialogue is the solution to the tense situation.
Ukraine is deviating from European values and is taking the path of restriction, claims chairman of the opposition SDKU party Pavol Frešo. Frešo further criticised PM Robert Fico for “not taking a clear pro-European attitude towards the situation so far”. Frešo adds that, “It's immensely important for Slovakia to have on its eastern border a partner that holds European values and doesn’t head towards suppressing civil rights and liberties”. The Opposition Christian Democrats expressed “deep concerns” about the death of demonstrators during the ongoing protests in Ukraine. On behalf of his party, its head Jan Figeľ stated that these developments are leading Ukraine neither to stability nor to a united Europe. Quite to the contrary: violence and repression may lead the country into chaos, stated Figeľ.
