3 Feb 2014

Protest leader exits Ukraine

9:56 am on 3 February 2014

A Ukrainian protest leader who says he was abducted and tortured has left the country for medical treatment.

The BBC reports that Dmytro Bulatov has flown to Latvia. It was reported earlier that his final destination was Lithuania.

Ukrainian opposition activist Dmytro Bulatov being interviewed in Kiev. Bulatov was found severely beaten with multiple knife wounds, after apparently being tortured for days. The 35-year-old activist from the Avtomaidan group organised protests.

Ukrainian opposition activist Dmytro Bulatov. Photo: AFP

Mr Bulatov appeared on TV last week with a gash on his face and part of his ear cut off. He said he had been held and beaten for eight days. His case became a new rallying point for protesters, who want President Viktor Yanukovych to resign.

Thousands remain in Maidan square in Kiev, a focal point for the protesters. Mr Yanukovych has offered a number of concessions and his cabinet quit their jobs. But the demonstrators, many of whom want to see closer ties with the EU rather than Russia, have not been placated.

'Tragic situation'

Mr Bulatov was a leader of a group called Automaidan, made up mainly of drivers who would protect the protest camps and blockade streets. He went missing on 22 January and re-emerged eight days later on the outskirts of Kiev. He told the media he had been "crucified" by his abductors, who he could not identify other than to say they had Russian accents.

Opposition politicians Western diplomats expressed outrage at the incident.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned the "deliberate targeting of organisers and participants of peaceful protests".

On Sunday, opposition leader Vitali Klitschko said European diplomats had helped to arrange medical care outside Ukraine.