Ukraine investigators have opened a criminal investigation into a reported incident of disturbance during a nationalist procession in the Kiev earlier this week.
Police say a participant in Wednesday's march threw a smoke grenade into the premises of the five-star Premier Palace Hotel located near the site of a statue of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin that was toppled by nationalist youths last month.
Police said they have opened a hooliganism case over the incident.
The Wednesday march was held to mark the 105th anniversary of the birth of Stepan Bandera, a figure revered by many Ukrainians for his role in the fight for national independence during World War II. Bandera's record of cooperation with Nazi armed forces during that time, however, makes him a contentious figure.
The most prominent political party traditionally engaged in Bandera celebrations is the nationalist Svoboda party, which has been particularly active in the anti-government rallies that have been taking place in Kiev over the past several weeks.
Svoboda leader Oleh Tyahnibok has in the past made profoundly xenophobic and anti-Semitic remarks that have relegated his party to the fringes of national politics, but he has sought to dilute his group's more extreme positions in an bid to participate in the national debate.
Svoboda, which has 36 deputies in Ukraine's 450-seat parliament, described Wednesday's incident as a "provocation" and said two members had been expelled from its ranks as a result.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
