Chronology of political crisis in Ukraine(From Electronic Version of IGCP Book )
IGCP has released an electronic version of the book “Massive Human Rights Violations During the Civil Conflict in Ukraine”

On December 1 to Square of Independence there were some hundred thousands of protesters. On the same day activists of the radical nationalist organizations seized the building of the Kiev city public administration, the Trade Unions Building and tried to break to the building of Presidential Administration. As a result of collisions 156 police officers were traumatized, 126 from which were hospitalized.

Events on November 30 – on December 1 changed the aims which were pursued by protesters. The question of association signing of eurointegration left on the second plan; it was replaced by appeals to government resignation.(about a half of people of didn't want it)

Further actions of radicals taking part in the Euromaidan (attacks on militiamen and political opponents; torch procession on January 1, 2014 in honor of the leader of the Organization of the Ukrainian nationalists cooperating with nazis Stepan Bandera; aggressive rhetoric concerning the Russian population – "Russians") led to that the essential part of citizens of Ukraine began to perceive activity
Euromaidan as personal threat.

The next mass collisions of activists of the Euromaidan with militia happened on January 19, 2014 in Kiev. (the considerable number of representatives of the radical nationalist organizations which have united in so-called was a part of "self-defense". "Right Sector")
Mass collisions of activists of the Euromaidan with militia proceeded nearly a week; radicals captured law enforcement officers and passed to tactics of capture of office buildings in Kiev and regions. The quantity traumatized from both parties was estimated in hundreds.

Further events showed readiness of the president V. Yanukovych for a compromise with opposition. On February 12 V. Yanukovych agreed to go for formation of the coalition government, and on February 15 within amnesty earlier detained participants of protests were released under house arrest.

On February 18 in the Verkhovna Rada vote concerning constitution change had to take place. This day was marked by new collisions with the militia, the provoked radical participants of the Maidan. During begun in the morning on February 18 so-called "peace approach" Euromaidan on the Verkhovna Rada some thousands of armed activists of the Euromaidan attacked militia cordons, and also burned office of governmental Party of Regions on Lipskaya Street. It was thus killed two employees of office. By the evening the militia pushed aside fighters to Square of Independence. This day both from the Euromaidan, and from militia there were first killed unknown snipers. So, in particular, in the night of February 19 the sniper near Square of Independence killed five police officers.

Further events showed readiness of the president V. Yanukovych for a compromise with opposition. On February 12 V. Yanukovych agreed to go for formation of the coalition government, and on February 15 within amnesty earlier detained participants of protests were released under house arrest.

On February 18 in the Verkhovna Rada vote concerning constitution change had to take place. This day was marked by new collisions with the militia, the provoked radical participants of the Maidan. During begun in the morning on February 18 so-called "peace approach" Euromaidan on the Verkhovna Rada some thousands of armed activists of the Euromaidan attacked militia cordons, and also burned office of governmental Party of Regions on Lipskaya Street. It was thus killed two employees of office. By the evening the militia pushed aside fighters to Square of Independence. This day both from the Euromaidan, and from militia there were first killed unknown snipers. So, in particular, in the night of February 19 the sniper near Square of Independence killed five police officers.

Further events showed readiness of the president V. Yanukovych for a compromise with opposition. On February 12 V. Yanukovych agreed to go for formation of the coalition government, and on February 15 within amnesty earlier detained participants of protests were released under house arrest.

On February 18 in the Verkhovna Rada vote concerning constitution change had to take place. This day was marked by new collisions with the militia, the provoked radical participants of the Maidan. During begun in the morning on February 18 so-called "peace approach" Euromaidan on the Verkhovna Rada some thousands of armed activists of the Euromaidan attacked militia cordons, and also burned office of governmental Party of Regions on Lipskaya Street. It was thus killed two employees of office. By the evening the militia pushed aside fighters to Square of Independence. This day both from the Euromaidan, and from militia there were first killed unknown snipers. So, in particular, in the night of February 19 the sniper near Square of Independence killed five police officers.

On February 21 with mediation of representatives of France, Germany and Poland the president of Ukraine Victor Yanukovych and leaders of opposition signed the Agreement on settlement of political crisis. The agreement provided return to the constitution of 2004, carrying out early elections of the president until the end of 2014 and formation "the governments of national trust". Special forces of militia and internal troops had to be brought out of the center of Kiev, and the opposition undertook to hand over the weapon which was available at the disposal of formations of "Maidan self-defense force".

But the agreement wasn't executed. On the night of February 22, in the conditions of the vacuum of the power formed after leaving the center of Kiev of militia divisions, armed groups of "Right Sector" and "Maidan self-defense force" took governmental quarter. The president Yanukovych ran from the capital; gathered on February 22 in being under complete control of formations of opposition the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine People's Deputies adopted the resolution on "self-elimination" of the president Yanukovych.

Activities of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for "legal" registration of the new power and formation of the government of A. Yatsenyuk took place against application of a direct physical abuse concerning deputies from the Party of Regions (PR) and the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU).

The opposition which has come to the power successfully divided portfolios, however couldn't stop further escalation of violence. The first actions the new power approved in Kiev incited against itself considerable part of the Russian-speaking population of southeast areas of Ukraine. Demonstrative cancellation of the law providing the status regional Russian, threats to political opponents and beating by activists of the Euromaidan of officials, law enforcement officers and deputies from Party of Regions and Communist party of Ukraine frightened and without that not taking a special liking for the Euromaidan the population of the Southeast of Ukraine.

In the very first days after capture of governmental quarter in Kiev supporters of the Euromaidan made an attempt to establish the new power in the Crimea. On February 23 in Simferopol joint meeting of activists of the Euromaidan and supporters of Majlis of the Crimean Tatar people on which the chairman of Majlis R. Chubarov declared that to the Crimean authorities 10 days on dissolution of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (ARC) and destruction of a monument are given to Lenin in the center of Simferopol was organized.

Meeting organized by supporters of the Euromaidan in Simferopol happened just when to the Crimea came back going to Kiev to hold a meeting in support of the president Yanukovych opponents of a Maidan. Some hundred inhabitants of the Crimea left by buses Kiev in the evening on February 20, however at night the 21st was stopped at the city of Korsun-Shevchenkovsky by supporters of the Euromaidan. Buses of inhabitants of the Crimea were burned, they underwent beatings and mockeries, some people were crippled, and a little, most likely, are killed. Coming back home, victims told about the endured sufferings and it didn't add to the Euromaidan of supporters in the Crimea. The situation was aggravated by the public statement of the activist of the right radical organization "Patriot of Ukraine" made on February 24 Igor Mosiychuk, promising to organize from radical fighters "the friendship train" for punishment of inhabitants of the Crimea.

In the next days in the Crimea destruction by activists of the Euromaidan of monuments to Lenin, causing indignation of local population began. On February 26 the building of the Verkhovna Rada of ARC had mass collisions with participation the medzhlisovskikh of the activists, trying to break to the building of the Verkhovna Rada. As a result of collisions was lost two people.
In these conditions on February 27 the Russian Unity party leader Sergey Aksyonov was appointed by the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of ARC to a post of the Prime Minister of an autonomy. Also it was declared holding a referendum about the status of an autonomy and expansion of its powers, planned for May 25, 2014. Created of locals "self-defense groups" took public institutions under protection and created posts on entrance on the peninsula, and divisions of the Russian armies deployed in the Crimea blocked military units of Armed forces of Ukraine, without having allowed their intervention in the conflict.

On March 1 S. Aksyonov reallotted to himself all power structures of the republic and officially appealed to the president of Russia Vladimir Putin "about rendering assistance in providing the world and tranquillity in ARC territory". On the same day the authorities of the Crimea transferred date of a referendum and appointed new date of vote — on March 30, 2014. Some more days later, on March 6, were declared change of the formulation of a question of a referendum and postponement of vote for March 16. Two questions were submitted for a referendum: "You for reunion of the Crimea with Russia as the subject of the Russian Federation? " and "You for restoration of action of the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea of 1992 and for the status of the Crimea as parts of Ukraine? " Thus, the authorities of the Crimea raised a question of possibility of occurrence of the Crimea in structure of Russia.

On March 16 in the territory ARE the Crimea and Sevastopol took place a referendum by results of which 96,77% voting supported "reunion of the Crimea with Russia as the subject of the Russian Federation". The considerable contribution to a similar outcome of a referendum was made by fear felt by the population of the Crimea before the Euromaidan, and also persistent attempts of right radical Ukrainian activists to organize bloody provocations in the territory of the republic. To it in conversations with experts of Group pointed both simple inhabitants of Simferopol, and representatives of parliament of the Crimea.

On March 18 in the Kremlin the contract on acceptance in structure of the Russian Federation of the Republic of Crimea, soon ratified by both chambers of the Russian parliament was signed.
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