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All policemen leave Ukrainian house under control of protesters in central Kiev

The building is under control of protesters

© ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Pochuyev

KIEV, January 26 /ITAR-TASS/. All policemen were withdrawn from the Ukrainian house in European Square in central Kiev. The building is under control of protesters. Local TV channels have reported about it from the place of events.

Police reserve group was stationed at the Ukrainian house for leisure on Saturday, when the protesters blocked the building and “tried to provoke police to clashes,” the country’s Interior Ministry reported earlier. “Policemen did not yield to provocations, did not give a single reason for escalation of tension and showed self-restraint,” the ministry said. “Protesters sought to capture law enforcers for further exchange of opposition activists. To continue talks (between the country’s leadership and opposition) and settle the conflict in peaceful way the interior minister decided to withdraw policemen from the Ukrainian house,” the ministry noted.

Protesters unexpectedly attempted to storm the Ukrainian house at around 01:00 local time (23:00 GMT on Saturday) on Sunday. It is unclear who gave an order to stage this action. Several assaulters claimed that state authorities had allegedly provoked them to do it, as the authorities had stationed policemen in the building. Protesters decided that police commandoes set to come behind their lines in the neighbouring Grushevsky Street.

Attackers broke down windows and smashed down doors, but failed to penetrate in the building, after that they blocked the building and began talks to provide free exit for policemen. Policemen left the building freely without any incidents.

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