'Separatists' arrested in Ukranian eastern city of Kharkiv

Pro-Russian protesters rallied in front of the occupied regional administration building in Kharkiv on April 7.Writing on his Facebook page, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the state administration building in Kharkiv had been cleared of separatists and work had resumed, rferl.org reports.

Downtown has been "blocked off" but the subway is operating, he added.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry was quoted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying those detained were suspected of "illegal activity related to separatism, the organization of mass disorder, damage to human health," and breaking other laws.

After news of the Kharkiv operation emerged, Russia's Foreign Ministry this morning called on Kyiv's authorities to stop massing military forces it claims are intent on suppressing antigovernment protests in southeastern Ukraine.
 

Pro-Russians stormed and occupied a local administration building in the eastern city Kharkiv. Interfax quoted Avakov as saying that about 70 "separatists" had been arrested.

Pro-Russian protesters seized government buildings in the eastern cities of Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk on April 6, demanding that referendums be held on whether to join Russia.