Ukraine threatens house arrest for injured activist

(Vatican Radio) Ukraine's government has threatened to detain a leading anti-government activist who is currently being treated in hospital, after he was allegedly abducted and tortured by security forces. Activist Dmytro Bulatov was moved to intensive care after police reportedly tried to capture him in hospital. Ukraine's Interior Ministry said he should be put under house arrest as the 35-year-old young man was both a victim of kidnapping and suspected of organising mass disorder.

Speaking from hospital, Mr Bulatov warned anti-government protests would continue, despite allegations that authorities are using death squads. "There is not a single spot on my body that doesn’t hurt. My face was cut and they threatened to prick one of my eyes while cutting off a piece of my ear", he said. "They crucified me, nailing me to a door, and beat me viciously at the same time. I also had a sack over my head. But despite all these things, and other cruel torture as well, [...] we will not be intimidated, nothing will stop us."

Meanwhile, Russia has clashed with Western powers over the issue of Ukraine’s future at a security summit in Munich, in Germany. European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said the "future of Ukraine belongs with the EU", while US Secretary of State John Kerry stressed he backed what he called Ukraine's "fight for democracy". Speaking through an interpreter, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded by accusing those who defend the violent protests of double standards. "What does incitement of violent street protests have to do with the promotion of democracy?", he asked.

Ukraine's opposition says however that most demonstrations are peaceful, while opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk urged the EU to impose sanctions: “Sanctions are the perfect tool to convince the government to stick to the standards of democracy, not dictatorship.” But the EU remains cautious, explained Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski: “Sanctions tend to be the end of politics and we are in a situation in which the President of Ukraine has made important concessions to the opposition. We should do everything to encourage them to find a compromise.”

Listen to Stefan Bos' report: