The efforts of Ukraine’s embattled President Viktor Yanukovich to take the heat out of the political crisis in the country by signing into law an amnesty for demonstraters and repealing anti-protest legislation has had little effect. Fears are growing of the army intervening leading to further violent clashes.
However, opposition leaders have asked supporters not to take to the streets as freezing temperatures persist.
Activist Dymtro Bulatov, allegedly abducted a week ago, remains in intensive care in the Ukrainian capital. Attempts were made to arrest him on Friday but police were blocked by opposition MPs.
Former MP Taras Chornov witnessed the incident: “The beginning of the night was a bit worrying as there were a number of police jeeps around. Officers then tried to enter but our men were in control. After that all was quiet here.”
The activist has claimed that he was kidnapped and tortured including being crucified by his unidentified captors. He was then dumped in a forest. The country’s interior ministry has said it is investigating what happened to him, however the country’s interior minister has said Bulatov’s story may have been exaggerated.
