An international platform, tentatively referred to as ‘Geneva Plus,’ would provide a number of measures for freeing Crimea from Russian occupation, according to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Proposed measures would range from sanctions, international pressure, and the release of illegally detained Ukrainians, to the judicial protection of the interests of Ukraine in international courts, as stated by Poroshenko in an interview with Ukrainian TV channels on Sunday, January 24th.

"In …

On January 24th, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that approximately 300 people were killed by the H1N1 swine flu virus or acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) in Donetsk. The occupation authorities of the Donbas region are unable to provide the local population with needed medical care, leading to an outbreak of the illnesses. The Chief Directorate of Intelligence noted that tensions in the Donbas conflict continue unabated.

The Deputy Minister of Health Care of Ukraine, Igor …

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk advocated holding a referendum on the adoption of a new Constitution. According to RIA Novosti, on January 24th Yatsenyuk stated that “The time has come for Ukrainian people to say what the Constitution should be in new European Ukraine. None but Ukrainians have the rights to determine the fundamental law.”

Five days prior, it was reported that a group of deputies registered in Verkhovna Rada the draft law “On the procedure for the formulation of the …

Pro-Russian separatists of the DPR and the LPR are trying to create a "political system that shows signs of a totalitarian regime" in the occupied territories, the head of the ATO of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vitaliy Malikov, said.Social and living conditions as well as economic and humanitarian situations in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions which are occupied by militants, can be described as critical, Malikov said in an interview with ZN.ua. According to him, the fuel and energy sector, …

In Moscow, on the Yauza Gate square, a rally was held to support Ildar Dadina and several other political prisoners. Participants also called for the abolition of the ‘protest’ Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code, the law against participating in unsanctioned protests, as reported by a correspondent for Grani.  The rally was attended by about 400 people.

The activists held slogans such as: "Anyone who thinks is the enemy," "Putin, bring in your henchmen," "The Constitution should be read to …

An unregistered Polish political party called “Change” filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s office in Warsaw about the Euromaidan-Warsaw activists. Polish Radio reported that Ukrainians were accused of contempt of Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin.

Members of the party drew attention to October 7th last year when Euromaidan-Warsaw activists started picketing the Embassy of Russia Federation on the center of Warsaw. During the protest, participants used placards where Putin was …

Representatives of the Moldovan opposition delivered an ultimatum to the authorities in Chisinau. RIA Novosti reported that the group threatened to block routes of international and national importance if their demands are not met by Thursday, January 28th. A major protest rally was held in Chisinau on Sunday, January 24th.

According to police, there are nearly 20,000 people taking part in the protest held in the central square of the capital of Moldova. Organizers stated that more than 100,000 …

Decentralization and constitutional changes will exclude the adoption of laws on “special status” for any of the regions as stated by the president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, at a meeting of the Association of Towns of Ukraine in Kiev.

"Decentralization and constitutional change, on the contrary, discourages attempts to create laws granting "special status" for any city, region or territory," Poroshenko said.

According to the President, the forces that are trying to stop the process of …