Ukrainian PM Threatens Pro-EU Protesters with Prison

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov threatens demonstrators with prosecution. Photo EPA/BGNES

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov threatened pro-European demonstrators with prosecution if they continued to violate the law.

According to Azarov, the reasons for the street protests have been exhausted.

"Certain political forces are pushing street protests towards violence, illegal occupation of institutional offices and impeding the state's functions. These are criminal deeds. I would like to ask the so-called street protests leaders to take responsibility for these crimes. Do not hide behind people, come out and take the blame personally," Azarov said.

"Your leaders are putting you up to a crime. They will try to hide behind lawmaker immunity. But you will have no-one to hide behind," Azarov addressed the demonstrators, as quoted by BBC.

Despite threats, pro-EU demonstrations in Kiev continue. The protesters occupied the central 'Independence' square, setting up barricades against possible police attempts to disperse them.

Thousands of citizens and university students have been staging mass rallies for over a week in Kiev against their President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign the Association Agreement with the EU.

According to the BBC, the protests are the largest since the pro-democracy Orange Revolution in 2004.

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