“I’m sure that even a bad peace is better than any kind of war,” Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said in an interview with Ukrainian television stations Monday.
Ukrainian
opposition politicians and activists in recent days have taken to the streets en
masse in cities across Ukraine in the largest protests since Ukraine’s Orange
Revolution to demand Yanukovych’s immediate resignation.
In
an interviewon Dec. 2, Yanukovych condemned recent police violence against
protestors and journalists, and said he was willing to work with the opposition
to resolve the current political crisis.
“Over
the weekend law enforcement officials went too far and there is no excuse for
that. It is clear, however, that they
were provoked (into those actions).”
On
Nov. 30 police used force to break up a peaceful demonstration on Kyiv’s
Independence Square, wounding dozens who were protesting Yanukovych’s decision not
to sign a free trade agreement with the EU.
On
Dec. 1st conflict between the police and protestors erupted again when a group
of armed men attempted to storm the presidential administration. The conflict injured people on both sides as
well as 37 journalists.
Opposition
leaders have demanded that head of police Vitali Zakharchenko be dismissed, and
said that pro-government groups organized the storming of the presidential
administration to discredit the largely peaceful protests.
Yanukovych
declined to name any officials’ guilt in the clashes, saying that it would be
for a special commission to decide.
Yanukovych
also used the opportunity to lash out against protestors who seized Kyiv’s city
hall, saying that they occupied it “by hiding behind children.”
Opposition
protesters occupied city hall on Dec. 1 after violence was used to clear
Independence Square.
In
response to mounting domestic and international criticism, Yanukovych has asked
Ukrainians to wait until the next election for change.
“Politicians
should not to hurry… the elections will come and people
will decide,” he said.
Kyiv Post staff writer Oksana Grytsenko can be
reached at [email protected].
