And then lastly, but certainly not least, we welcome today’s vote by Ukraine’s parliament on draft constitutional amendments on decentralization.  This is an important step towards good governance for all Ukrainians which also helps fulfill another key piece of the Minsk agreements.  We deplore the violence outside the parliament today that reportedly resulted in the death of at least one police officer as well as dozens of injuries.  Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those killed and injured.  We call on all Ukrainians, no matter their affiliation or organization, to respect law and order.  We fully respect Ukrainians’ right to engage in peaceful protests, but in a democratic society, grievances must be addressed peacefully and lawfully.  We also call for a full investigation into the cause of today’s violence.  Those responsible should be held accountable.

By U.S. Embassy Kyiv | 31 August, 2015 | Topics: Press Releases