Ukraine Moves to Disarm Right Sector After Shootings

Russia, EU Back Parliament's Vote on Disarmament

Amid reports that one of their members was involved in a shooting at a Kiev restaurant, Ukraine’s parliament has voted to disarm “illegal armed groups” in the nation, a move aimed primarily at the ultra-nationalist Right Sector.

The Right Sector played a major role in the violent protests which installed the current interim government, but the group has continued to stir trouble in recent weeks, promising to take a violent revenge on the nation’s Interior Minister over the death of one of their leaders, killed in a shoot-out with police.

The order to disarm the group and the ability to actually make it happen are two different things, however, and while police moved on a hotel linked to the group’s leadership they are unlikely to disarm the group as a whole without a fight.

Russian officials expressed support for the move, as did foreign ministers from several EU member nations, which urged Ukraine’s new government to distance itself from the extremist factions.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is senior editor of Antiwar.com.