The greatest responsibility of a state is to protect its people, no matter who triggered the violence. Judging by very simple finding, it is evident that the Ukrainian Government is unable to protect its people, said President of the European Economic and Social Committee Henri Malosse, quoted by IPN.

In a news conference in Chisinau, the European official said that two days ago he was in Kiev, where he met with representatives of civil society. “The protesters want changes and transparency and eradication of corruption and hoped that these things would take place when Ukraine joined the European Union. Evidently, there is a radical wing that has a different opinion, but I cannot say who generated the violence in Kiev. There are yet facts that speak for themselves,” stated Henri Malosse.

According to him, on November 30 the Ukrainian police reacted violently against the young people who peacefully protested on the streets. As a result, 22 young people were captured, some were beaten and tortured, while 300 people were jailed without any justification. “The most serious thing is that no investigation or criminal case was started over these illegalities. The last figures show that 77 persons died in the Kiev clashes, 15 of whom security officers. It is evident that the Ukrainian Government was unable to protect its people,” said Henri Malosse.

In the afternoon of February 21, the Ukrainian oopposition signed an agreement with President Viktor Yanukovych to try to defuse the deepening political crisis. The signatories and those attending the signing ceremony observed a moment’s silence in memory of those who died in the violent clashes of the last few days.