Sakatian Federal Police TSG officers advancing towards protesters
Plavagrad - Sakatia Today - - Violent protesters clashed with police in Plavagrad, following several days of on and off violence. The Sakatian Federal Police confirmed a total of 285 arrests on Tuesday, with 19 officers injured. Another 70 protesters died following the clashes. The Minister of Internal Affairs said any death of a police officer "will cross a red line and the protesters do not want to cross that red line".
On Monday the protesters were given a deadline to leave Yarkonvi Square by noon today, however they failed to do so. The SFP gave a extra hour for the protesters to vacate the site or the police "will be forced to forcibly move them". That deadline went and passed and the police moved in.
The protesters held their ground while police vehicles advanced on the small square, located a few blocks away from the massive Golden Square, which is currently locked down. The protester then threw rocks and petrol bombs at the police, who fired back with tear gas and concussion grenades. As the police moved in, another group of demonstrators broke through a nearby police cordon and set fire to a ErnetBank branch on Livuldinya Street.
The police managed to clear the square, following the extensive use of teargas and rubber bullets. 3 protesters were confirmed dead following the clashes.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party Secretary General Yuri Solovyov was arrested for "plotting a coup against the Federal Government". The SFP executed a search-warrant and he was arrested without incident, according to a SFP spokesman.
In Metropolitan Plavagrad, 4 people were confirmed dead after deadly clashes with riot police. The Plavagrad Metropolitan Police arrested 98 people in the city of Solnste. On Monday, the Solnste's local police station was blown up by a petrol bomb, killing 9 police officers. The explosion was linked to construction equipment in the station.
President Salkov called the clashes "regrettable" and said he will make "political concessions" if the protesters "cease their violent acts". He added that his government will do whatever it takes to "uphold the rule of law", including the deployment of the military.