Two police officers have been injured in clashes with members of nationalist organizations protesting against the land market bill near the Ukrainian parliament on Dec. 17, the Kyiv police said in a statement.
The clash took place after some protesters tried to set up a tent blocking traffic on Hrushevsky Street, the statement said.
“Law enforcement officers stopped the citizens and tried to talk them out of committing an offense, but the protesters started an altercation with the police that eventually developed into a brawl. According to preliminary information, two officers sustained injuries as a result of the conflict. They were taken to hospital and given medical treatment,” it said.
One of the protesters was detained on suspicion of criminal actions, the statement said.
As reported earlier, the altercation turned physical, and special police equipment, an antiseptic bright green dye, tear gas, wooden sticks, and pyrotechnical devices were used. Damage was caused to the building of the Kyiv Hotel.
There were four protests taking place near the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv on Dec. 17 morning. In addition to the protest against the land market bill, the AutoEuroSyla organization demanded liberalization of customs clearance of imported cars with European license plates. There was also a protest against a bill, which harmonizes anti-discrimination laws with European standards, and a protest of members of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine.
