Anti-Maidan protesters still control building of Donetsk region’s administration

DONETSK. April 9 (Interfax) – The building of the Donetsk region’s administration, which was occupied by anti-Maidan protesters on April 6, stayed under their control in the morning of Wednesday.

An Interfax correspondent has reported that there are three lines of barricades made of cement and sand are located in front of the building. The metal Mertsalov Palm Monument, a symbol of Donetsk, is being used in the barricades.

Duct tape has been put between trees in front of the building.

Pro-Russian activists are blocking all entrances to the building.

The situation in the city is calm.

Representatives of the Donetsk Republic, which was declared two days ago, told Interfax they intend to discuss whether administration officials should be allowed to enter the building in a Wednesday meeting.

In the meantime, the public relations department of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry’s Main Department in the Donetsk region has denied the information that police officers have left the territory near the region’s administration building. “This information is false. Officials from various police departments are still around the building of the Donetsk region’s administration and will stay there until the administration is fully freed from the protesters who now occupy it,” the police said in a report.