Published on Jan 10 , 2014

Activists of AutoMaidan late Friday blocked three buses of “Berkut” [special riot forces] who had earlier beaten protesters in the court yard after the Kyiv Svyatoshynsky court ruling [on the “Vasilkovsky terrorists”]. Activists demanded that “Berkut” take off their masks and show their ID. [Berkut special forces carry no ID on their uniforms]. With these requirements politician Yury Lutsenko entered the bus and tried to negotiate with them for an hour. Upon exiting, there was a clash and Lutsenko was beaten with a baton 8 times until he fell unconscious. With severe head injuries, he was taken away by ambulance. After this the confrontation continued. Finally, protesters and “Berkut” commanders agreed that protesters will open up a “living corridor” passage for the soldiers to pass through and will allow them to enter the police department building if they walk through with their faces uncovered, to identify them. The Berkut officers exited their bus with faces uncovered and took the Walk of Shame, to protesters calls of “shame”.