DONETSK, April 23 (RIA Novosti) – Pro-federalization protesters have gathered for a daily rally in front of the activist-occupied Donetsk Regional Administration building in eastern Ukraine, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Wednesday.
Members of the people’s militia have gathered near a tent camp across from the building, drinking coffee and talking to one another while listening to Russian songs.
Ukrainian authorities are conducting a special operation to crack down on pro-federalization activists in eastern regions of the country that have been swept by rallies since last month. Moscow has condemned the decision by the new Ukrainian authorities to use force against protesters, saying it was an extremely unpleasant turn of events.
Federalization supporters in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Gorlovka, Slaviansk and Kramatorsk refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the current Ukrainian government and are urging interim authorities to hold referendums similar to the one held in Crimea last month, which led to the republic's reunification with Russia.
In a bid to de-escalate the ongoing conflict, senior diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, the United States and the European Union approved a statement last Thursday calling on the parties in Ukraine to refrain from violence, extremism and provocations, and move to disarm militants and launch a national dialogue on constitutional reform.
