Riot police in Ukraine fell to their knees to ask for forgiveness

Begging for forgiveness, the riot police blamed for dozens of deaths in Kiev: 'Brutal' security forces get down on their knees but are greeted with shouts of 'shame'

• Extraordinary scenes in Lviv involved Berkut elite anti-riot force
• The officers had returned from fighting protesters in the capital
• Crowds greeted them with chants of 'Shame!' and 'Tribunal'
• But in Odessa and Crimea, returning Berkut police have been cheered
• Also revealed some police have disappeared along with weapons

By Will Stewart
PUBLISHED: 11:12 GMT, 25 February 2014 | UPDATED: 15:10 GMT, 25 February 2014

Riot police in Ukraine fell to their knees to ask for forgiveness for their colleagues who shot and beat antigovernment protesters in the recent Kiev massacre.

The extraordinary scenes in Lviv involved the Berkut elite anti-riot force whose members had returned from duty in the capital.

They apologised on a stage in front of pro-Europe protesters.

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Riot police kneel as they apologize to Lviv residents for taking part in an operation against anti-government protesters in Kiev

The officers told locals that they did not beat protesters, during a rally in central Lviv

Officers from Lviv Berkut Special Police Unit beg people of Ukraine to forgive them

Returning from duty in Kiev, crowds greeted them with chants of 'Shame!' and 'Tribunal'

'I am asking you to forgive us,' said an officer who stood in front of other men. In memory of those who were killed, we want to kneel down.'

The officers were greeted with chants of 'Shame!' and 'Tribunal' but they stressed they had not killed or beaten people themselves.

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Today it was revealed that some Berkut riot police personnel have disappeared along with weapons.

Interim Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the officers were alarmed at the prospect of an investigation into their conduct on Independence Square when dozens of protesters were killed last week.

Begging for forgiveness: Members of Berkut anti-riot unit prepare to leave their barracks in Kiev

Brutal: Berkut riot police shoot rubber bullets toward anti-government protesters on Independence Square on February 19

Clashes: Berkut riot police throw stones at anti-government protesters, who are throwing rocks in return

Riot police involved in more clashes with anti-government protesters on Independence Square on February 19

'We have difficulties with the Berkut units which have been left without leadership.

'Their leadership have fled, that is why today's check up has shown that 35 persons are not at their subunit's base. This is a problem.'

In Odessa and Crimea in contrast, returning Berkut police have been cheered by crowds waving Russian flags, highlighting the deep divisions on the country over last week's events which led to a revolution and the fleeing of president Viktor Yanukovych.

Many of them carried batons and wore masks.

In Odessa, the commander of the Berkut battalion came to the crowd and shook people's hands. He asked the crowd to remain peaceful and keep public order. 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2567420/Begging-forgiveness-riot-police-blamed-dozens-deaths-Kiev-Brutal-security-forces-knees-greeted-shouts-shame.html#ixzz2uWkhMmHj

In Kiev, women begged riot police not to attack protesters (BBC)