27 Jan 2014 20:31

Regional governor: state of emergency in Ukraine bad idea

KHARKIV, Ukraine. Jan 27 (Interfax) - The Kharkiv regional governor has described the current crisis in Ukraine as "a civil war" but rejected proposals for a state of emergency.

"A state of emergency is a radical, extreme measure that would in effect bury any short-term, or even medium-term, chance of dialogue between the authorities, the opposition and those who are staging riots in the street today," Mykhailo Dobkin told a briefing on Monday.

"A state of emergency means an absolutely different set of rules for society to live in. It would be more complicated than what you are worrying about so much today. So, as long as there is a chance to organize dialogue, including with the help of foreign states, it must be taken," Dobkin said.