Ukraine foils civil disorder plot

A plot to incite
riots and violence against police was stopped by Ukrainian law enforcement.
According to the National Police report, protests were to start on Jan. 31 at
the office of President Zelensky, but mass actions in the cities of Cherkassy, Chernihiv,
Poltava and Sumy were planned. Events of up to 5,000 people were planned, with
groups focused on attacking police and faking injuries, and medical personnel
were hired to give false statements about the extent of the bodily
harm. Interior Minister
Denis Monastyrsky stated at a press conference that the tactic had also been
used in Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk in 2014.

The organizer of the
alleged protests
has been arrested, National Police Chief Ihor Klymenko stated.

James Hydzik: The
prospect of civil unrest built up by provocateurs has been a constant danger in
Ukraine. With the likelihood of a military invasion somewhat less during the
Olympic games in Beijing, attempts to create turmoil are more likely. They
should not distract the world from the Olympics, and would prepare the ground
for further action – military or otherwise. At this point, terrorism targeting
civilians in particular is not common, and the alleged plot focused on
attacking the police.