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Sevastopol hopes to be only stronghold of stability in conflict-torn Ukraine

Public activists in Sevastopol have been creating people's self-defense forces and municipal militia to ensure order in the city

Sevastopol transport police have been patrolling trains which arrive in Sevastopol ITAR-TASS/Alexei Filippov

Sevastopol transport police have been patrolling trains which arrive in Sevastopol

© ITAR-TASS/Alexei Filippov

SEVASTOPOL, February 26. /ITAR-TASS/. Public activists in Sevastopol have been creating people's self-defense forces and municipal militia, Ivan Khmelov, a member of the Public Coordination Council under the Sevastopol administration, told Itar-Tass.

"The Coordination Council and militia are ensuring order in the city now. The city militia do not obstruct the activity of the public activists and ensure order in the city as envisaged by the law. Sevastopol transport police have been patrolling trains which arrive in Sevastopol,"Komelov said.

Following reports about liquidation of Berkut riot police we have really offered all the Berkut servicemen to join municipal police, making up its backbone. "As far as I know around 100 former Berkut servicemen have returned to Sevastopol," Komelov said.

Every-day life in Sevastopol has been under control. All the city departments and services have been operating in a usual regime. The newly elected Sevastopol mayor has raised a considerable sum to settle possible problems which might arise in financing the municipal services and paying pension allowances and wages to city residents, Komelov said.

“In moments of total mess Sevastopol should be an island of stability and set an example to the whole world what self-governing should be like,” Komelov said. The city administration has been working in a usual regime, he said.

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