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Zaporozhye police release over 180 supporters of Ukraine federalization

KIEV, April 15, 0:51 /ITAR-TASS/. Police in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporozhye have released more than 180 demonstrators who supported the holding of a referendum on Ukraine’s federalization, the first deputy head of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry’s Zaporozhye Region department, Oleg Kurochkin, said Monday.

“If there were any actions that may be assessed as separatist, this is up to the Ukrainian Security Service [SBU] to decide. We deal solely with law enforcement,” Kurochkin said.

Zaporozhye saw clashes between supporters and opponents of the current Kiev authorities on Sunday, April 13. Over 180 people, all city residents, were brought to a local police station.

Protests against the new self-proclaimed Ukrainian leaders, brought to power as a result of a coup in February, have erupted in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking southeastern regions, with demonstrators demanding referendums on the country’s federalization.

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