Brussels, 17/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 15 February, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said she welcomed the “important” steps undertaken during the last few days to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine, “thus contributing to a Ukrainian way out from the current political crisis”.
Ashton also welcomed “in particular” the evacuation the same day by activists of the Kiev City administration building, as well as several other administrative buildings throughout the country - such as the regional administrations of Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankisvk (West) and Poltava (East). “These are important steps and I commend the role played by the Swiss OSCE Chairman-in-Office in this context”, Ashton said
Although Ashton also called for the ongoing legal action against protesters to be dropped, hoping that this action would be taken “without delay” so as to facilitate the political dialogue in Parliament this week, the public prosecutor announced several hours later that a law entering into force on 17 February provides for legal action against people having committed offences between 27 December and 2 February. (CG/transl.fl)