Lavrov: No Russian security agents in east Ukraine

Lavrov: No Russian security agents in east Ukraine
Fri Apr 11, 2014 20:24:31

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has denied reports of Moscow having deployed soldiers or security agents to Ukraine's eastern regions, where pro-Russian protests have been held for independence.

Lavrov’s comments were made on Friday, amid accusations that Moscow is stirring up unrest in the eastern parts of the country.

"We are accused of having security agents there. They are not there," said Lavrov, adding "We don't have our soldiers there."

Lavrov also denied that Moscow wants to take over more Ukrainian territory but repeated a call for Ukrainian regions to have strong powers.

The Western-backed government in Kiev has accused Russia of being behind pro-Russia protests in several major cities in the eastern part of the country. 

In addition, US Secretary of State John Kerry has claimed that Moscow is sending spies to eastern Ukraine to "create chaos."

The eastern Ukrainian cities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv have lately been the scene of protests. The demonstrators have seized government buildings, demanding a referendum on integration into the Russian Federation.

The pro-Russian demonstrations gained momentum in the Eastern European country after Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and formally applied to become part of the Russian Federation following a referendum on March 16.

The move sparked angry reactions from the United States and the European Union, both imposing sanctions against a number of Russian officials and authorities in Crimea.

SHI/SHI

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