Protesters have clashed with riot police outside the parliament building in Ukraine. At least one officer has been killed in the violence, which
ADVERTISEMENTProtesters have clashed with riot police outside the parliament building in Ukraine.
At least one officer has been killed in the violence, which erupted as deputies debated granting more autonomy to the disputed regions in the east.
Dozens of police officers and protesters have been injured.
Some are said to be in a serious condition.
Smoke bombs were launched as demonstrators tried to storm wire fences surrounding the building in Kyiv.
What are they angry about?
There is real anger among those who think the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk should remain within Kyiv’s close orbit.
They are currently controlled by pro-Russian separatist groups.
Euronews Correspondent Sergio Cantone is on the scene: “As you can see from the news footage, the draft bill adopted today is creating major controversy. These demonstrators are mostly from the radical side, but many Ukrainians, even the moderates,agree with them. They think this concession is being made in Russia’s favour in the hope of a peace that will never happen.”
What happened inside parliament?
There were also angry scenes inside the parliament.
During a rowdy session, those against the draft law blocked access to the tribune for a time.
The vote, backed by President Petro Poroshenko’s political bloc and his government, eventually passed with 265 votes.
The reform was outlined in the Minsk 2 peace plan earlier this year, the terms of which state the reforms must have been adopted by the end of 2015.