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Ukraine government not to blame for casualties in Kiev riots, premier says

Even in these conditions, the authorities resort to the use of force only to contain aggression - Ukraine's PM

Ukraine's Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov ITAR-TASS/MARIA FROLOVA

Ukraine's Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov

© ITAR-TASS/MARIA FROLOVA

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Crimean residents disdained by riots in Kiev, legislature speaker says

KIEV, January 23. /ITAR-TASS/. The Ukrainian government is not to blame for the death of people during mass riots on Kiev’s central Grushevsky Street, Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov said at talks with WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo in Davos on Thursday.

“As Prime Minister of Ukraine I state with all responsibility that the authorities are not involved in the death of people. We feel deeply sorry in connection with that tragedy,” the press service of the Ukrainian government quoted him as saying.

According to the prime minister, “the authorities have to deal with sophisticated and extremely harsh provocations by gunmen for whom human lives are just a bargaining chip for achieving their goals - anti-constitutional take-over,” he said.

However, “even in these conditions, the authorities resort to the use of force only to contain aggression, and see a peaceful settlement of the situation as the main aim,” he said.

Clashes between protesters and police in the area of central Grushevsky Street began on January 19. All in all, 157 participants in protest rallies have sought medical assistance, according to the Kiev city administration. Earlier, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed the death of two people in the standoff against new laws which aim to curb public protests.

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