Europe

Ukraine's new rulers disband riot police squad

Force blamed for deaths of almost 100 in clashes in Kiev is ‘liquidated’, minister says

A funeral of an anti-government demonstrator takes place Independence square, where dozens of protesters were killed in clashes with riot police last week in Kiev. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
A funeral of an anti-government demonstrator takes place Independence square, where dozens of protesters were killed in clashes with riot police last week in Kiev. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Wed Feb 26 2014 - 08:00

Ukraine's riot police force, held responsible for the deaths of most of the 100 people killed in unrest and clashes in Kiev, has been disbanded, acting interior minister Arsen Avakov said today.

Snipers from the Berkut force - whose name means golden eagle and signifies a predator capable of swooping quickly on to its prey - are blamed for the deaths of most of the protesters in a three-day spasm of violence last week.

“The Berkut no longer exists”, Mr Avakov wrote in a post on Facebook.

“I have signed an order ... for the liquidation of the Berkut special police units,” he said.

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Reuters