Ashton: "It's ok for my boys to kill unarmed civilians, but Yanukovych couldn't arm his forces against armed thugs..."
Spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, released an official statement following the tragic events in Odessa. 39 anti-government activists have died in a fire at the Trade Unions House there, after the building was set ablaze by pro-Kiev radicals. Some anti-Kiev protesters burned to death, while others suffocated or jumped out of windows, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said.
"The authorities in Kiev not only bear direct responsibility, but are complicit in these criminal activities. Their arms are up to the elbows in blood," Peskov said.
He said the tragedy in Odessa was the product of "the connivance of those who consider themselves the authority in Kiev."
"They allowed extremists and radicals to burn unarmed people alive. I stress that these people were unarmed."
Peskov condemned the position adopted by Washington and a number of European countries as motivated by cynicism.
"It is the highest manifestation of cynicism. The people who justify this punitive operation are the same ones that did not allow the legitimate President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovich, to bring order to the country," said Peskov, referring to the special operation being carried out in the East of Ukraine at the order of the Kiev government.
The latest escalation in the fighting in eastern Ukraine has made it impossible for any nation to convince people to disarm in the region because their lives are at risk, said Peskov.
"In spite of consistent attempts to encourage dialogue, Russia has hit against provocation not only from Kiev, but also its Western sponsors."
The president's spokesperson announced on Friday that Kiev had effectively destroyed the last vestige of hope for implementing the Geneva agreement on de-escalating the Ukrainian crisis by unleashing a 'punitive operation' in eastern Ukraine. Russia views the operation as criminal and has urged the Ukrainian government not to use force against unarmed civilians.
However, the EU and the US have both supported the Kiev government's operation. President Barack Obama called it "a move to restore order," while EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said "the state's monopoly on the legitimate use of violence needs to be respected."
"Our colleagues in the West are basically trying to justify the large number of murders we are seeing," said Peskov, calling Ashton's statement "monstrous."
When asked how Russia would react to the escalating conflict in Ukraine, Peskov said he was unable to answer that question at present.
"This is unknown territory for us," said the presidential spokesperson, adding that the Russian government has received thousands of calls from southeastern Ukraine, demanding Moscow's help.
"Desperate people call, they ask for help. The vast majority want Russia's help," said Peskov. "All of these calls are reported to President Vladimir Putin."
Reader Comments
Catherine Ashton was chosen as a stooge with a pleasant veneer ...
in order to cajole the EU to go along with a perpetual war agenda ...
cooked up in London, Brussels and Washington.
"The Latest and Biggest Battle Between East and West Converges in the Ukraine"
[Link]
The WAR for the Ukraine: What’s the real story?
You got to be kidding!
She reminds me of Hitlery!
For which the false flag stands.....
And to Kiev should the opposition go to 'show their support', as all kinds of foreign adversaries are said to reside in the city and in need of expulsion... should the circumstances allow. Air traffic might be disrupted, but sacrifices need be made in a time of need and Ukraine needs same sane show of support, and the capital of any country is usually the best locale to do so.