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Lithuania confirms torture of Ukrainian activist, urges probe
AFP ^ | Feb 4, 2014

Posted on 02/04/2014 4:02:03 PM PST by Ivan Mazepa

Lithuania on Tuesday confirmed signs of torture on a prominent Ukrainian anti-government activist and urged an independent probe into the crime which could breach a related United Nations convention. "Dmytro Bulatov...has clear signs of long term torture and cruel treatment on his body," a Lithuanian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Bulatov, who alleges he was "crucified" and tortured for days by unknown assailants in his homeland, is one of three injured Ukrainian protesters receiving free medical care in Lithuania. (...)

The leader of the "Automaidan" movement, he organised motorcade protests outside President Viktor Yanukovych's sprawling country estate near Kiev and has been targeted by police. Bulatov said unidentified kidnappers held him for eight days from January 22.

"They crucified me, nailed me, cut my ear off, cut my face," he said on Ukraine's Channel 5 television shortly after his release last week. "I can't see well now, because I sat in darkness the whole time." Images of his bloodied face sparked international outrage, with the European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton saying she was "appalled by the obvious signs of prolonged torture". Lithuania played a prominent role in EU efforts to seal a partnership deal with Ukraine. Yanukovych rejected it in November, sparking the wave of at times deadly civil unrest gripping his country.

(Excerpt) Read more at globalpost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: bulatov; lithuania; maidan; protests; ukraine
In the finest tradition of USSR and KGB
1 posted on 02/04/2014 4:02:03 PM PST by Ivan Mazepa
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To: Ivan Mazepa

There’s zero evidence that the Russian government or the Ukrainian goverment for that matter was involved.


2 posted on 02/04/2014 4:25:48 PM PST by mac_truck ( Aide toi et dieu t aidera)
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To: mac_truck

Of course not. This has George Soros’ fingerprints all over it.


3 posted on 02/04/2014 4:33:11 PM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: Ivan Mazepa

The story never changes with these clowns. Intimidation is in their blood.


4 posted on 02/04/2014 4:45:52 PM PST by KOZ.
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To: Ivan Mazepa
In the finest tradition of USSR and KGB

Well, you know the old saying: You do best what you do most.

5 posted on 02/04/2014 4:59:56 PM PST by cloudmountain
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To: mac_truck

If only this had been an isolated incident where a critic of the president gets assaulted (ex. Chornovol, Igor Lutsenko)

So you think he cut himself?


6 posted on 02/04/2014 5:21:32 PM PST by Ivan Mazepa
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To: Ivan Mazepa
at least he wasn't water boarded...
7 posted on 02/04/2014 5:41:32 PM PST by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -vvv- NO Pity for the LAZY - 86-44)
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To: Ivan Mazepa
If only this had been an isolated incident where a critic of the president gets assaulted (ex. Chornovol, Igor Lutsenko)

In America you must provide evidence to back up your accusations, where is the evidence the Ukrainian government was involved, much less the Russians?

In fact the Ukrainian police did a pretty good job catching the five men who forced the lady journalist Chornovol off the road and beat her up. The five are all still in custody awaiting trial. What more can a reasonable person ask the government to do in that situation?

As for the 'kidnapped' activist, the Ukrainian government was prevented by the 'pro-democracy' crowd from conducting an investigation and the 'victim' has fled the country rather than talk to police, so its anyone's guess what really happened.

8 posted on 02/04/2014 6:10:40 PM PST by mac_truck ( Aide toi et dieu t aidera)
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To: mac_truck

Sounds like we have a regular Duranty here. The torture of Bulatov is consistent of the tactics practiced by the Donestk mafia, and President Yanukovich is its most prominent member. It was due to overwhelming international pressure against the Ukrainian government that Bulatov was able to escape further harm. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry launched an investigation against Bulatov and sought to remove him from the hospital where he was receiving care. His doctors and lawyer were successful in shining the spotlight on this outrageous behavior and he was lucky to leave and obtain medical treatment in Lithuania.


9 posted on 02/04/2014 7:00:58 PM PST by Agog
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To: Ivan Mazepa

A NATO country sides with pro-NATO activist?


10 posted on 02/05/2014 3:10:38 AM PST by kronos77 (Kosovo is Serbian Jerusalem. No Serbia without Kosovo.)
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To: kronos77; mac_truck

Do you find it disconcerting that you are defending a thug like Yanukovich?


11 posted on 02/05/2014 6:12:31 AM PST by Ivan Mazepa
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To: Ivan Mazepa





12 posted on 02/05/2014 6:16:12 AM PST by kronos77 (Kosovo is Serbian Jerusalem. No Serbia without Kosovo.)
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To: Ivan Mazepa
Yanukovoch is legally, democratically elected president. On the upper photos are “opposition activists”
13 posted on 02/05/2014 6:17:14 AM PST by kronos77 (Kosovo is Serbian Jerusalem. No Serbia without Kosovo.)
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To: Ivan Mazepa
What matters is that the Ukraine government was democratically elected, not whether the President of the country is a “thug” in your opinion.

Frankly, I'm surprised at how much restraint that thug Yanukovich has shown.

14 posted on 02/05/2014 6:22:32 AM PST by mac_truck ( Aide toi et dieu t aidera)
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To: mac_truck

6 dead, hundreds injured, hundreds arrested, by one account 30 missing - that’s some restraint.

If he had shown more of that “restraint”, Ukraine would be on its way to Syria and Lybia, and he could have been another Gadhaffi.

Absolute failure as a President


15 posted on 02/05/2014 6:44:05 AM PST by Ivan Mazepa
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To: kronos77

Some will argue that being democratically elected doesn’t allow one to imprison political opponents, enact dictatorial anti-protest laws, and sanction acts like kidnapping and torture.


16 posted on 02/05/2014 6:51:11 AM PST by Ivan Mazepa
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To: Ivan Mazepa
Considering the well documented level of violent provocation from Pravy Sektor the government response was very restrained, and your allusions to Syria, Libya are a fantasy.

Yanukovich would have been well within his purview to call a state of emergency once the "protesters" took control of government ministry buildings.

Still might happen if the current negotiations fail to clear the streets.

17 posted on 02/05/2014 7:01:46 AM PST by mac_truck ( Aide toi et dieu t aidera)
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To: mac_truck
and your allusions to Syria, Libya are a fantasy

Further escalation resulting in a military conflict/civil war is a distinct possibility and I'm not the only one with that fantasy. This has been the narrative for a lot of the articles these days, this forum included

18 posted on 02/05/2014 7:17:38 AM PST by Ivan Mazepa
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