Russians warn: Civil conflict possible in whole of Ukraine

Russia is calling on the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and other international organizations to pay attention to violations of human rights in that country, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Friday.

"The Ukrainian military has been granted exclusive powers, including the extrajudicial use of force, which poses a serious danger, as the civil conflict may engulf the entire country," she said, commenting on the declaration of martial law in ten of Ukraine's regions, Tanjug reported citing TASS.

According to Zakharova, the law, said to be aimed at deterring "Russia's aggression," stipulates restrictions on basic human rights and freedoms, including freedoms of speech, assembly and movement.

"The Kiev authorities can now seize anything they want from the country's people, from private property to identification documents," Zakharova pointed out.

She also warns "Ukraine's Western protectors" that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's idea of introducing the law was "very dangerous."

"While desperately trying to stay in power, he is pulling the country into another scheme, followed by disastrous consequences for Ukraine, as well as for European security," said the spokesperson.

Zakharova concluded that martial law "endangers predominantly Russian-speaking regions, where most people never supported the current authorities, as opinion polls show."

On November 26, Ukraine's parliament backed Poroshenko's decree declaring a 30-say martial law in ten regions, identified as "most susceptible to a possible Russian attack" - and this took place after Sunday's incident in the Kerch Strait, when Russian services confiscated three Ukrainian ships and arrested their crews,...

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