A Finnish observer who recorded violations by the Ukrainian side was attacked in Slavyansk
Slavyansk – Kyiv, March 08 (PolitNavigator, Mikhail Ryabov) – Finnish political figure, Russian affairs expert, and journalist Antero Eerola reported an assassination attempt on him during a business trip to Slavyansk. This was reported by the Finnish newspaper Helsinki News.
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Eerola is a well-known journalist specializing in Russian studies, publicist, and political figure who soon intends to publish a book in Finland entitled “ The Ukrainian Crisis – A Struggle for a Country Torn in Half . ”
He is also a member of the City Council of Vantaa from the Left Union party.
On the eve of the assassination attempt, Eerola observed the situation in Svetlodarsk, 10 km from Debaltsevo, where Eerola noticed that the artillery of the Ukrainian security forces was firing at the territory of the militia, despite the truce.
“The security forces bombed the militia’s territory there, even 12 hours after the truce,” Eerola said.
After recording violations during the truce on the part of the security forces, a group of unknown people attacked Eerol in Slavyansk on the street.
“A group of young people started asking me something in an aggressive tone in Ukrainian. I replied that, alas, I only speak Russian.” As a result, unknown persons attacked Eerol and beat him. He was hit in the face, his clothes were covered in blood, and the Finn had to be hospitalized.
The observer claims that local police did not want to investigate the incident. Eerola believes he could have lost his life. “Ukraine, as a country in complete chaos, is also a territory where there is no war. There is a strong atmosphere of aggression everywhere,” he said.
Eerola spent 10 days in Ukraine and believes that the Western press is falsifying the facts. “The Western media and the speeches of politicians paint a picture that we are allegedly talking about outside interference. It is very easy to blame Russia for everything. The causes of Ukraine's problems are internal. Even Maidan activists are deeply dissatisfied with the results of the coup.”
Eerola also believes that in Ukraine human rights are violated, the activities of the opposition are limited, and the situation of freedom of speech is deteriorating. “I watched a trial where the Ministry of Justice, the Security Service of Ukraine and two far-right parties tried to ban the opposition communist party. I have never seen such a circus as in the courtroom: complete chaos, screams, threats.” Eerola believes that the civil war in Ukraine and the atmosphere in the country are reminiscent of the Finnish civil war of 1918.
A Finnish observer was attacked in Slavyansk while recording violations by the Ukrainian side.