UK and Canadian Ambassadors to Ukraine condemn the attempt to capture October Palace by Saakashvili supporters
The Ambassadors from Canada and Great Britain to Ukraine, Roman Waschuk and Judith Gough, condemned the attempts by activists of the New Forces Movement to enter the premises of the October Palace (International Center of Culture and Arts) in Kyiv to establish their headquarters there.
"Attempts to capture and destroy public buildings are an abuse of the right to peaceful protest," Roman Waschuk wrote on Twitter. Judith Gough made the same statement.
The Chief of the National Police of Ukraine, Serhiy Knyazev, addressed the participants of the protest action, noting, "The actions of participants of the rally put children at risk."
"Dear protesters, I urge you not to commit provocations in the October Palace, where the children's holiday is taking place right now. This transcends all boundaries of human understanding," Knyazev announced.
Supporters of Mikheil Saakashvili, the leader of the New Forces Movement, former President of Georgia, and former Chairman of the Odessa Regional State Administration, tried to enter the October Palace on December 17th after Saakashvili had announced his intention to establish a public control headquarters in the Palace. The activists broke the door of the building.
Law enforcers prevented activists from seizing the building, using fire extinguishers and tear gas against them. Saakashvili and his supporters called on activists to return to Independence Square, where they held a meeting. He also said that he opposed any provocations and that he and his supporters were not going to seize the building, but intended to rent a room there. The call to retreat was not listened to by everyone and attempts to enter the building continued as activists threw petards.