A Ukrainian nationalist demonstration brought ugly scenes outside parliament in Kyiv as protesters clashed with police.<br /><br />The protesters wanted, but failed to get, official recognition for a controversial World War II partisan group.<br /><br />Proceedings in parliament were brought to a halt because of the trouble outside.<br /><br />The far-right Svoboda party and the nationalist group the Right Sector both said their members were not responsible for the unrest.<br /><br />Ultra nationalists and agent provocateurs have been blamed. <br /><br />An interior ministry adviser was quoted as saying he could not rule out the idea that Russian intelligence was behind the trouble.<br /><br />Amid increasing tension, smoke canisters and stones were thrown at police, windows were blown out by air guns.<br /><br />The violence saw 50 arrests and left 15 policemen injured.<br /><br />Euronews correspondent in Kyiv Dmytro Polonsky reported from the scene: <br />“The protesters outside the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) are demanding that MPs pass a law recognising the soldiers of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) as fighters for independence. Now militias are using tear gas and batons as they guard the building and the politicians.”<br /><br />The Ukrainian Insurgent Army first fought but later allied themselves with the Nazis.<br /><br />Many in Ukraine view them as collaborators – they were also accused of atrocities – but for the protesters they were heroes fighting for Ukrainian independence.<br /><br />There have been several attempts to gain official recognition, all have failed.<br /><br />“We should have recognised the Ukrainian Insurgent Army 20 years ago when there were 12,000 of us – now only a few hundred remain. But who needs it? We’ve been rehabilitated by history,” said a former UPA veteran dressed in military uniform.<br /><br />The nationalists counted youth as well as the old among their supporters.<br /><br />“If the people have recognised that the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army are heroes who fought for Ukrainian independence, then the state should recognise it – otherwise there is a real gap between government and people,” a young woman added.<br /><br />Tuesday evening saw nationalists again take to the streets of Kyiv, peacefully.<br /><br />They also called for recognition for the UPA and better conditions for soldiers fighting in the government’s operation against pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.<br /><br />The marchers, some of whom lit flares and set off fireworks, included far-right militia from the Azov Battalion, described by some as “patriots”, by others as “neo-Nazis”.
