Ukraine: Police ‘attack wrong protesters’

Ukrainian riot police have allegedly beaten up a busload of government supporters, after mistaking them for opposition activists.

A coach carrying pro-government demonstrators was stopped just outside Kiev and boarded by riot police, according to anti-government activist Dmitriy Belotserkovets. Despite the passengers shouting “we’re on the same side as you”, police proceeded to beat them up, he said.

Speaking to Russian news website Novy Region, Belotserkovets said the coach was attacked because its number plates were from western Ukraine, where many anti-government protesters have travelled from. The group was in fact from the Crimean city of Sevastopol.

Realising their mistake, the police allowed the bloodied demonstrators to continue on its way, Belotserkovets said.