February 18, 2014 – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:
John Baird
“I am shocked and appalled by the renewed violence and deaths today in Kyiv.
“Canada calls on all sides to show restraint and to cease all acts of violence immediately. No act of violence or repression today will go unnoticed by the Government of Canada, and we will work with our allies in the international community to ensure that those responsible will be held to account.
“President Viktor Yanukovych has a solemn responsibility to protect the fundamental right to peaceful assembly.
“The democratic aspirations of the Ukrainian people can and will be met through a political solution. We call on the Ukrainian government to work with the opposition and demonstrators to respond to their legitimate calls for a true democracy.”