Affrontements à Kiev – 23 août 2011

Opposition clashes with police on Ukrainian Independence Day

rt.com

24 August, 2011

Supporters of jailed Ukrainian opposition leader, former PM Yulia Tymoshenko have clashed with police in the centre of Kiev. The unrest has come as the country is celebrating its 20th anniversary of independence from the USSR.

Police cordoned off the central Kreshchatik Street while a march by Tymoshenko supporters was in progress. However, several protesters managed to break through the cordon and began throwing stones and bottles at law enforcers, reported RIA Novosti.

According to the press-service of Tymoshenko’s “Batkivshchina” (Fatherland) party, the police used tear-gas to restore order. Police, however, denied the accusations, saying that they “only protected themselves with shields, » the chief department of the Interior Ministry in Kiev told Interfax. Read more…