Ousted Ukrainian President Implicated in Mass Protesters’ Deaths

World Today

In Kiev, the interim government has accused ousted President Viktor Yanukovych and his administration of ordering snipers to shoot people during protests.

A press conference was held in Kiev where members of Ukraine’s interim government, including the new interior minister, the head of the secret service and the prosecutor general, accused Yanukovych’s government of complicity in the mass murders of protesters in February. Over 100 people died during the clashes. The prosecutor general said 12 members of the Berkut riot police had been detained on suspicion of shooting peaceful participants in the protests. The new administration has pushed for more answers and concrete results in the on-going investigation.

However, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov emphasized that the previous administration has obstructed them from doing their jobs.

The interim officials have claimed Yanukovych’s government cooperated with Russia, stating that Russia’s security forces had been seen in Ukrainian Secret Service headquarters during the protests and that they had evidence that Russia had transported a large amount of explosives into Ukraine. Tensions between Ukraine and Russia have become increasingly strained after the accession of Crimea.