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The latest breaking news from Ukraine in English

​Ukrainian crisis: January 12

The latest events from Ukraine.

​Ukrainian crisis: January 12
Vitali Klitschko
Фото: Макс Левин

LB.ua chronicles the latest events in Ukraine in English for foreign readers.

Read previous articles on the topic:

Ukrainian crisis: January 10

Ukrainian crisis: January 11

10:12. U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt called former interior minister Yuriy Lutsenko Euromaidan hero, who tried to stop clashes between 'Berkut' special police fighters and Euromaidan activists.

10:22. Today Euro-Automaidan activists are planning to hold another picket at President Viktor Yanukovich's residence 'Mezhigorie'.

10:46. Former interior minister and head of the public organization 'Ukrainian Third Republic' Yuriy Lutsenko, who was beaten by 'Berkut' fighters has been transferred to a private room in a hospital, but he doesn't have a phone there and none of the outsiders are allowed to enter. https://lb.ua/news/2014/01/12/251408_palatu_lutsenko_nikogo_puskayut_.html

11:19. Eurodeputy Rebecca Harms, co-president of the The Greens–European Free Alliance group in the European parliament, predicts increasing pressure on Euromaidan activists by the Ukrainian authorities.

11:35. Rally in support of President Viktor Yanukovich and against Euromaidan forum is being held near the monument to Taras Shevchenko in Kharkov, where local Euromaidan protesters traditionally gather.

12:00. The Central Election Commission of Ukraine intends to submit another submission to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine regarding the interpretation of the rules, which require a presidential candidate to reside in Ukraine for the last few years before elections.

Under the Constitution, the presidential candidate must reside in Ukraine for the past 10 years with the possibility of going abroad for a period not exceeding 180 days in total for one year. Lawyers interpret term 'Ukrainian residence' based on the decree of the Cabinet 'On income tax of the citizens' and the law 'On Citizenship of Ukraine'. Some lawyers say term 'residency of the presidential candidate' means the place where he pays taxes in the recent years. Vitali Klitschko - who is expected to be nominated a single opposition candidate in the presidential elections - has recently publicly admitted that he pays taxes in Germany.

12:17. Head of the Supreme Court of Ukraine Yaroslav Romaniuk appealed to the citizens and law enforcement agencies with the official position of the judiciary with respect to public events around Sviatoshynsky district court.

He said that Ukraine's judiciary is alarmed with the latest events. He also stressed that mass protests near the court buildings prevent courts from normal operation and are aim to persuade officials to adopt a decision that benefits some of the parties of the case. Yaroslav Romaniuk also addressed the authorities and law enforcement agencies to take measures to ensure that such situations do not occur in the future.

12:26. The first National veche in 2014 has begun on Kyiv's Independence Square.

13:03. The opposition 'Svoboda' party said more than 50 thousand people have attended the National veche.

13:40. In the nearest future Euromaidan plans to picket Viktor Yanukovich's residence 'Mezhigorie' and announce an all-Ukrainian strike, said Euroaidan activist and singer Ruslana Lyzhychko.

13:52. Sentence to 'Vasilkovsky terrorists' will be appealed, said public prosecutor on the criminal case Konstantin Kulakovskii.

On January 10 Kyiv Svyatoshinsky district court sentenced so called 'Vasilkovsky terrorists' - Mosiychuk Igor, Sergei Bevza and Vladimir Bevza - to six years of jail. On August 26, 2011, they, being members of the nationalist organization 'Patriot of Ukraine', were taken into custody on charges of plans to demolish a monument to Lenin. Mosiychuk Igor and Sergei Bevz were deputies in Vasilkov City Council, and Vladimir Bevza - assistant deputy in Vasilkov City Council.

14:03. The opposition 'Batkivshchyna' faction chairman Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that all the police units should be subject to lustration.

14:12. Traffic police has blocked Auto-Euromdaian activists' cars leaving European Square in Kyiv centre.

14:17. Next week the opposition will ask U.S. Senate to impose personal sanctions against Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko and other Ukrainian officials.

14:41. Another anti-Euromaidan has started in Mariinsky park in Kyiv, where the protesters put six army tents. A large number of policemen is patrolling the area.

14:41. The opposition leaders announced an all Ukrainian strike as the next step of Euromaidan protest.

15:23. Euromaidan calls on the European Court of Human Rights to release former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Participants of the National veche unanimously supported this decision on Sunday, January 12.

15:45. Auto-Euromaidan activists have managed to move out of the way the trucks which police used to block the road at the turn to Viktor Yanukovich´s private residence ´Mezhigorie´.

16:00. In Kharkov unidentified man informed police of mining of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church, where on January 11, at St. Demetrius church a meeting of All-Ukrainian Euromaidan Forum was hosted.

16:25. The police won´t let Auto'Euromaidan activists move to President Viktor Yanukovich´s private residence ´Mezhigorie´. At about 400-500 meters from the house the police is blocking the road with trucks, buses and a 'Berkut' special forces fighters cordon staying in several rows. 'Berkut' employees are wearing masks and apparently are ready to use force.

16:26. Police had the right to use weapons during the events on January 10 under Kiev Svyatoshinsky district court, said acting head of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine in Kyiv Valery Mazan.

16:52. According to the police data National veche on Kyiv's Independence Square was attended by eight thousand people. Earlier the opposition evaluated the amount of the participants as of 50 thousand people.

17:05. Unidentified men attacked a mobile reception room of a chairman of the Kharkiv regional organization 'Svoboda' Igor Schwaika near the metro station 'Holodna Gora' ('Cold Mountain') in Kharkov.

17:20. Pope Francis expressed his support to Ukrainians.

'Pope Francis assured of their prayers for peace and harmony for beloved Ukrainian people', - said a letter from the Vatican.

17:36. The first Ukrainian Euromaidans' Forum in Kharkov, which took place on January 11 and 12, ended with a rally near a monument to Yaroslav the Wise near the metro station 'Pushkinskaya'. A few hundred activists were holding national flags and banners saying 'Freedom to state employees', 'Slaves are not allowed in Russia', 'Yanukovich's achievemnet - bankrupt Ukraine' and others.

20:10. Judge of Kyiv Sviatoshynsky district court Yuri Burbelo, who sentenced 'Vasilkovsky terrorists' to six years of jail, has been hospitalized. Most probably he is in intensive care. However, the reasons for hospitalization were not disclosed.

Read next: Ukrainian crisis: January 13

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