Translated by Ollie Richardson & Angelina Siard

00:41:59
14/11/2016

Korrespondent.net

The law enforcement agencies of Ukraine are preparing for potential protests in the country. On the basis of the National Security and Defense Council a headquarters was established to respond to a surge of activity rallies.

This was reported by sources of Korrespondent.net close to the organizational structures of the headquarters.

Among the planned measures is a crackdown on protests and the imposition of martial law in Kiev if the situation enters the stage of military confrontation.

The staff is headed by the Secretary of the NSDC Oleksandr Turchynov. According to sources, the structure also included Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov, the Prosecutor General Yuri Lutsenko, the head of the General Staff Victor Muzhenko, representatives of the SBU and intelligence, as well as the People’s Deputy Sergey Pashinsky.

The first meeting of the headquarters took place on 13.11.16 on Bankovaya Street. As it became known to Korrespondent.net, a few decisions were taken.

Police were ordered not to allow in the capital transport with protesters, the Kiev authorities and power structures in any way to allow the installation of equipment and tents on Maidan. The Town Hall must obtain a court ban on holding mass rallies in the capital.

Deputies from the coalition factions (the Bloc of Petro Poroshenko, People’s Front) are proposed to choose athletes and staff of private security structures for the units like “Titushky“, which will help the security forces to disperse mass actions, if necessary.

The intelligence service and SBU received the task of publicising information about the “Russian trace” in the upcoming protests. Also tasked was the study of the issue of shutting down TV and blocking Internet sites.

If all these measures have no effect, and protests will take place on a large scale with the blockade of administrative buildings, the security forces will receive the order to disperse protests and arrest their leaders. For this, units of the National Guard, armed forces and special forces of the SBU are supposed to be deployed.

The apparatus of the National Security and Defense Council at the meeting have already been instructed to prepare a draft legislation on the introduction of martial law and a curfew regime in Kiev, according to sources.

Note that the most likely reason for protests are considered to be “shock bills”, in which as of October new prices for heating have been introduced. Earlier , the Cabinet of Ministers raised them by 75-90%. Thus, heating a two-bedroom apartment now costs about 1,500 hryvnia, while the average salary in the range of 5,000 hryvnia.

Earlier, the authorities consecutively increased the price of electricity, gas, and cold water.

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