Ukraine's murky inferno
Eastern approaches 2014-05-08
Summary:
Before the soot had even settled in Odessa's burned-out trade union building, where at least 40 people, mostly pro-Russian demonstrators, died in a fire last Friday, the building was opened to the public - undermining chances that the promised investigation would supply credible answers.
Most of the horrified visitors tramping up and down the blackened stairs inside were in no doubt about who was to blame: far-right Ukrainian nationalists, bent on murdering pro-Russian protesters. That is the Russian media's version, but it is by no means shared by everyone in Odessa.
The basic sequence of events appears to have been (established from eyewitnesses and photos and videos): four people died on Friday afternoon after shots were fired by pro-Russian militants onto a peaceful demonstration for Ukrainian unity in the city centre. Later a pro-Ukrainian crowd, including some far-right militants, sought revenge by torching the pro-Russian protest camp in front of the trade union building. Pro-Russians sought refuge in that building. Some...Continue reading