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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Radicals in Odessa blockade regional militia department

This action answers to the release of federalizaton supporters who had been detained after the May 2

ODESSA, May 05, 0:27 /ITAR-TASS/. Right-Sector radicals and representatives of the so-called Self-defence of Maidan blockaded the building of the regional militia department here on Sunday night in protest at the release of federalizaton supporters who had been detained after the May 2 unrest.

Several hundreds of activists of the two organizations, wearing masks, helmets, and carrying shields, clubs, and chains, marched from the square near the monument to Duke de Richelieu to the building of the regional militia department.

Major-General Ivan Katerinchuk, new chief of regional militia, who had been appointed to the position earlier in the day, came out of the building and addressed the militants. "I was in Maidan. I come out in favour of a united Ukraine and against the country's split. However, I was appointed (to the present position) only today (Sunday) and I need to look into what is going on here," Katerinchuk said.

He emphasized that the job of militia is "to avert an escalation of the situation and death of people, and do everything possible so that there would be confrontation any longer between various groups of protesters".

In response, the radically-disposed participants in the meeting demanded that the new chief of Odessa militia reinforce the checkpoints set up around the city, and the removal of which had been demanded by his predecessor Colonel Pyotr Lutsyuk.

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Eastern Ukraine

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