Protests Near Rada: 19 Injured, 26 Activists Detained (PHOTOS)

17 of the injured are law enforcement officers. Criminal proceedings have been launched.

As a result of clashes near the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Tuesday, December 17, 17 law enforcement officers and 2 civilians were injured and sought medical help. In addition, 26 protest participants were taken to a district police department.

Head of the Kyiv Police Andriy Kryshchenko reported this at an evening briefing.

According to law enforcement, despite the declared peaceful rally, a group of activists tried to set up military tents. The police then decided to talk to the protesters to persuade them not to block traffic on Hrushevskoho Street, but, according to the police, they refused to comply with “lawful demands of law enforcement officers and started clashes”.

Andriy Kryshchenko
Head of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the city of Kyiv

Police used force and dismantled the tents. Shortly afterward, a group of activists began drilling into the asphalt with a hammer drill, inserting metal stakes and setting up tents. Therefore, a decision was made to push back such participants and seize the tents. Some activists began using batons and throwing stones at law enforcement officers. Active participants, 26 people, were taken to the district police department to establish all the circumstances. After receiving testimony and reviewing all materials, their actions will be given a legal assessment.

Law enforcement has launched criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Article 345 of the Criminal Code — threats or violence against a law enforcement officer.

Today, Tuesday, December 17, a number of political forces, including the All-Ukrainian Association Svoboda, the All-Ukrainian Association Batkivshchyna, the Agrarian Party and National Corps held a rally against the adoption in second reading of a bill on introducing a market for agricultural land under the Verkhovna Rada building. The peaceful rally turned into clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers.

Amid the protests, the evening session of the Rada was cancelled for consultations on the land market. Meanwhile, Servant of the People faction head David Arakhamia stated that what is happening under the Rada is not related to the land market issue.

During the actions near parliament, activists smashed the window of a Tesla Model X.