09:49 05.09.2015

Groups of people distributing explosive objects were among protesters at Rada on Aug 31 - Ukrainian interior minister

2 min read
Groups of people distributing explosive objects were among protesters at Rada on Aug 31 - Ukrainian interior minister

Former lawmakers Ihor Shvaika and Yuriy Syrotiuk have been named as suspects in the case of riots outside Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada on August 31, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said.

"Former lawmakers Shvaika and Syrotiuk and several others were named as suspects today. The court will rule on a pre-trial restriction for these people today. I believe that this is right," Avakov told a press briefing in Kharkiv on Friday.

He said that from his standpoint there is no alternative solution to this situation.

"There is no alternative. The attack on a policeman, on a National Guard is a crime, no matter who committed it - former lawmaker, former minister, incumbent lawmaker or the incumbent minister," Avakov said.

He said that investigators had found that there were groups of people interested in escalation among the protesters. "To a large extent they [these people] are established, the probe against them is going on, including to establish who distributed explosive objects, sticks, stun grenades enveloped in ribbons and stuffed with bolts and all other things," Avakov said.

Avakov said that three National Guard servicemen had been killed and five left in grave condition as a result of the August 31 events near the Verkhovna Rada. "Three people were killed, five guys are in grave condition, 139 policemen and National Guard servicemen are still being treated at the hospitals with injuries," Avakov said.

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