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Ukraine ignores interests of its citizens by declaring martial law, says senator

Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko has enacted the National Security and Defense Council’s decision to declare martial law until January 25

MOSCOW, November 26. /TASS/. Ukraine declaring martial law in the run-up to the presidential elections set to take place in spring 2019 reflects the Ukrainian government’s commitment to anti-popular policies and ignoring the interests of its own citizens, Chairman of the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Committee for Constitutional Legislation and State Construction Andrei Klishas told TASS on Monday.

"The attempt to declare martial law by provoking a conflict in advance is another political speculation of the Ukrainian regime, the nature of which has not changed since the 2014 coup d’·tat. The anti-popular regime in Ukraine is ready to do anything to remain in power, fully ignoring the interests of its own people and sacrificing the statehood in itself," Klishas said.

He noted that Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko’s initiative to declare martial law in the country is an attempt to prolong his presidential powers. "The actions of the president of Ukraine are nothing but an insidious manipulation of constitutional norms, the purpose of which is to virtually prolong the Ukrainian president’s term of office and expand the possibilities to restrict rights and freedoms of the Ukrainian people," Klishas noted.

The senator noted that the provocation held by Kiev had put Ukrainian citizens at risk. "By endangering the Ukrainian servicemen sent to Russian waters of the Kerch Strait, the Ukrainian president was only attempting to serve his own political interest," the senator concluded.

According to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), on Sunday morning, three ships from the Ukrainian Navy - the Berdyansk, the Nikopol and the Yany Kapu - illegally crossed Russia’s border. They ignored legitimate demands to stop issued by vessels belonging to the FSB Border Service and the Black Sea Fleet and continued to perform dangerous maneuvers. In order to stop the Ukrainian ships, the Russian forces had to use weapons and detain the three vessels. Three Ukrainian military servicemen suffered light wounds and were provided with medical assistance.

A criminal investigation has been opened into the border incident. The FSB said that evidence proving Kiev’s plans to carry out a provocation in the Black Sea would soon be made public.