Clashes outside Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Nationalists poured green on the police, which used tear gas in response

Ukrainian News
Марина ПищулинаQHA media
17 December 2019, 15:58
Марина ПищулинаQHA media
17 December 2019, 15:58

Today, December 17, clashes occurred outside the Verkhovna Rada during a rally against the adoption of a land market law.

According to Hromadske, representatives of the National Corps intended to set up tents in front of the parliament building.

Police asked if they had permission to do so, as a result clashes began between protesters and law enforcement officers.

Representatives of the National Corps doused the police with green paint, and they, in turn, used tear gas.

Reportedly, two journalists were injured in the clashes - Victoria Roshchina and cameraman Oleksiy Nikulin, they were sprayed with tear gas.

Also, the journalist got her phone knocked out of her hands when she was shooting a fight.

According to the Kyiv police, law enforcement officers, together with fighters of the National Guard, took up enhanced duty in order to prevent disturbances in public order and ensure the peaceful holding of planned actions in the center of the capital.

Also, employees of the State Emergency Situations Service, dog handlers, bomb technicians and dialogue police are on duty at the parliament building.

“Law enforcers appeal to the organizers and participants of the rally to comply with applicable law, not to disturb public order and to assist police officers in the performance of their duties,” the statement said.

Правоохоронці посилили заходи безпеки у центрі КиєваПоліцейські спільно із бійцями Національної гвардії України...

Опубліковано Поліція Києва Понеділок, 16 грудня 2019 р.

However, the National Corps party accused security officials of provoking activists.

“The agrarians and their vehicles are detained, tents are not allowed to set up. People are resisting. Despite clashes with law enforcement, the protest continues. We will not let squander Ukrainian land,” the party’s press service noted.

The rally was organized by a number of political forces, including Fatherland, Agrarian Party, Freedom and National Corps. In total, according to the police, 1.5 to 2 thousand people are taking part in the protest.

In the Parliament, four factions oppose the sale of agricultural land: Fatherland, Opposition Platform - For Life, European Solidarity and the parliamentary group For the Future.

The government of Ukraine plans to launch the land market from October 1, 2020. Only a resident of Ukraine can buy agricultural land, Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk stated at a meeting with farmers.