13:11
29.3.2014
RT @EuromaidanPR #Poroshenko & #Klitschko just signed declaration supporting #Poroshenko for presidency pic.twitter.com/T4iNfpO9my #Ukraine
— Dirk Emmerich (@DEmmerich) March 29, 2014
13:13
29.3.2014
"Changing the status of #Crimea was carried out without the expressed will of the Tatar people" says Refat Chubarov
— Paul Gypteau (@paulgypteau) March 29, 2014
We want "to create an autonomous territory for the Tatar people in #Crimea" says Refat Chubarov, head of the Majlis, the Tatar assembly
— Paul Gypteau (@paulgypteau) March 29, 2014
13:14
29.3.2014
Tymoshenko in circle of her prison cheerleaders: 'I want you to feel the change, I can't betray you anymore' pic.twitter.com/osBmGhoISw
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) March 29, 2014
13:15
29.3.2014
When Oleksandr met Alyaksandr - The photo-op:
Турчинов у Гомельській області на зустрічі з Лукашенко сьогодні. pic.twitter.com/gFebJNELjh
— Євромайдан (@Dbnmjr) March 29, 2014
13:19
29.3.2014
More on Crimean Tatar's plans to seek autonomy. Via Reuters:
BAKHCHISARAY, Crimea, March 29 (Reuters) - The leader of Crimean Tatars proposed on Saturday that the 300,000-strong indigenous Muslim minority seek autonomy on the Black Sea peninsula annexed from Ukraine by Russia.
Speaking to more than 200 delegates gathered for the top Crimean Tatars' assembly, Refat Chubarov said: "In the life of every nation there comes a time when it must make decisions that will determine its future."
"I ask you to approve ... the start of political and legal procedures aimed at creating ethnic and territorial autonomy of the Crimean Tatars of their historic territory of Crimea."
He did not specify whether he wanted the region, if it obtains autonomy, to be part of Russia or Ukraine.
Crimea's Tatars met in their historic capital Bakhchisaray to decide whether to hold a referendum among their people to determine their future.
Such a vote would be a challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin who incorporated the region into Russia after Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to split from Ukraine following the overthrow in February of Ukraine's pro-Russian president.
Crimean Tatars largely boycotted that referendum, which the West said was illegitimate.
"Nobody asked us, the Crimean Tatars ... in what conditions we want to live," Chubarov told Reuters this week.
Speaking to more than 200 delegates gathered for the top Crimean Tatars' assembly, Refat Chubarov said: "In the life of every nation there comes a time when it must make decisions that will determine its future."
"I ask you to approve ... the start of political and legal procedures aimed at creating ethnic and territorial autonomy of the Crimean Tatars of their historic territory of Crimea."
He did not specify whether he wanted the region, if it obtains autonomy, to be part of Russia or Ukraine.
Crimea's Tatars met in their historic capital Bakhchisaray to decide whether to hold a referendum among their people to determine their future.
Such a vote would be a challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin who incorporated the region into Russia after Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to split from Ukraine following the overthrow in February of Ukraine's pro-Russian president.
Crimean Tatars largely boycotted that referendum, which the West said was illegitimate.
"Nobody asked us, the Crimean Tatars ... in what conditions we want to live," Chubarov told Reuters this week.
13:49
29.3.2014
Speaking on March 27, political analyst Taras Kuzio warns that Petro Poroshenko has been a political chameleon for most of his career:
14:03
29.3.2014
Lots happening on a lot of political fronts today. Just to recap:
With major parties holding their conventions today, the field takes shape for the presidential election in May. Petro Poroshenko, who is the frontrunner in the polls, is in and he seems to have cut a deal with Vitaly Klitschko, who is is out and plans to run for mayor of Kyiv. Yulia Tymoshenko is in, and is fashioning herself as an anti-oligarch and a united who has no problem speaking Russian.
In the former ruling Party of Regions, ousted President Viktor Yanukovych is out, as is former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.
And in Crimea, the Tatars are talking autonomy.
Oh, and by the way, Darth Vader is also interested in running for president.
With major parties holding their conventions today, the field takes shape for the presidential election in May. Petro Poroshenko, who is the frontrunner in the polls, is in and he seems to have cut a deal with Vitaly Klitschko, who is is out and plans to run for mayor of Kyiv. Yulia Tymoshenko is in, and is fashioning herself as an anti-oligarch and a united who has no problem speaking Russian.
In the former ruling Party of Regions, ousted President Viktor Yanukovych is out, as is former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.
And in Crimea, the Tatars are talking autonomy.
Oh, and by the way, Darth Vader is also interested in running for president.
14:35
29.3.2014
AP is reporting that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is staying in Europe to deal with the Ukraine crisis and will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Paris on Monday:
SHANNON, Ireland (AP) — Halfway home from Saudi Arabia, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has abruptly changed course and will stay in Europe for talks on Ukraine.
Flying from Riyadh to Shannon, Ireland, for a refueling stop on Saturday, Kerry decided to turn his plane around and will now travel to Paris for a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (SEHR'-gay LAHV'-rahf) likely on Monday. Kerry had already been due to return to Europe on Tuesday for a meeting with NATO foreign ministers.
Kerry was in Riyadh, as well as Rome and The Hague, with President Barack Obama this week, but was traveling on his own plane. Kerry had made a side trip to Jordan to work on salvaging foundering Mideast peace talks while Obama visited Brussels.
Flying from Riyadh to Shannon, Ireland, for a refueling stop on Saturday, Kerry decided to turn his plane around and will now travel to Paris for a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (SEHR'-gay LAHV'-rahf) likely on Monday. Kerry had already been due to return to Europe on Tuesday for a meeting with NATO foreign ministers.
Kerry was in Riyadh, as well as Rome and The Hague, with President Barack Obama this week, but was traveling on his own plane. Kerry had made a side trip to Jordan to work on salvaging foundering Mideast peace talks while Obama visited Brussels.
14:37
29.3.2014
Die Welt reports that some top German executives are criticizing Western governments for allowing tensions to rise with Russia.
Via Reuters:
Via Reuters:
FRANKFURT, March 29 (Reuters) - Several top German executives have criticised U.S. and European action against Russia after the latter's annexation of the Crimea region triggered the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War, Die Welt newspaper reported on Saturday.
Herbert Hainer, chief executive of sporting goods maker Adidas, told the German newspaper he believed the West waited too long to start talks with President Vladimir Putin when tensions between Russia and Ukraine rose.
"We should ask ourselves if someone like Putin shouldn't have been part of the process much earlier, instead of holding off with talks until it's too late," he said.
Adidas has a high exposure to the Russian market, where it operates over 1,000 stores. Its share price has taken a hit, falling 15 percent since the start of the year, at least partly on concern over the Crimea crisis.
Herbert Hainer, chief executive of sporting goods maker Adidas, told the German newspaper he believed the West waited too long to start talks with President Vladimir Putin when tensions between Russia and Ukraine rose.
"We should ask ourselves if someone like Putin shouldn't have been part of the process much earlier, instead of holding off with talks until it's too late," he said.
Adidas has a high exposure to the Russian market, where it operates over 1,000 stores. Its share price has taken a hit, falling 15 percent since the start of the year, at least partly on concern over the Crimea crisis.
14:42
29.3.2014
And the presidential field takes shape:
Fatherland Party - Yulia Tymoshenko
Svoboda Party - Oleh Tyahnybok
Party of Regions - Mikhail Dobkin
UDAR - Petro Poroshenko
Fatherland Party - Yulia Tymoshenko
Svoboda Party - Oleh Tyahnybok
Party of Regions - Mikhail Dobkin
UDAR - Petro Poroshenko
Кандидаты в Президенты Украины: Батьківщина - Тимошенко Свобода - Тягнибок Партия регионов - Добкин Удар - Порошенко
— Константин Рыков (@rykov) March 29, 2014