A senior Russian lawmaker told RIA news agency that a campaign to capture pro-Russian activists by Ukrainian authorities was launched at the behest of the United States.
"The same reward was offered in the US in times of McCarthyism, during the witch hunt and as the US controls the Maidan, they expanded this practice to Ukraine, where it was gladly picked up," said Igor Morozov, referring to $10,000 cash rewards offered by authorities in Dnipropetrovsk Region for each pro-Russian activist detained.
Morozov, a member of the Russian Federation Council's Committee on Foreign Affairs, said the actions by the Ukrainian authorities violate the agreements reached last week at multi-party talks in Geneva, deepening the conflict between eastern and western parts of the country.
"Instead of establishing a dialogue with the population to seek compromise to overcome a deadlock in the region, the Dnipropetrovsk authorities have just further deadlocked the situation,” said the senator.
On Tuesday, media reported Ukrainian authorities had already paid cash rewards for eight captured activists.
In a bid to de-escalate the conflict, top diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, the United States and the European Union approved a statement last week calling on the sides in Ukraine to refrain from violence, extremism and provocations, disarm militants and launch a national dialogue on constitutional reform.
Eastern Ukraine has been swept by rallies since last month. Federalization supporters in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Gorlovka, Slaviansk and Kramatorsk have refused to recognize the legitimacy of the current Ukrainian government and are urging interim authorities to hold referendums.
Dnepropetrovsk Region has so far refrained from active confrontation. Authorities there have signed a treaty with the protesters and allowed them to use a government building for regular gatherings.
Biden offers Kiev US help in organizing presidential elections on May 25
US Vice President Joe Biden told Ukrainian members of parliament in Kiev, including presidential candidates, that the United States was ready to help Ukraine's economy but warned that they must fight the "cancer" of endemic corruption. He said the presidential election on May 25 would be the most important in the country's history and Washington was ready to help in holding it. Biden added that the US is ready to assist Ukrainian leaders in seizing a chance to create national unity.
He said there was no reason Ukraine could not achieve energy security, but it would take time. He asked the legislators to imagine the stronger position Kiev would be in now if it was not dependent on Russia for gas supplies.
US invested 5 billion in democracy promotion in Ukraine-Nuland
US Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, in an interview with CNN confirmed that Washington has allocated 5 billion "to support the aspirations of the people of Ukraine to a stronger, democratic government."
Earlier media has published video performances of Nuland at a conference on Ukraine, which was held in Washington in December last year. During her speech, Nuland said the US invested five billion dollars to support democracy in Ukraine since the collapse of the USSR.
Later Russian presidential advisor Sergei Glazyev said that developments in Ukraine were largely provoked by the United States and other NATO members. He also mentioned information that was presented by Nuland regarding the multibillion-dollar aid.
In an interview with CNN, excerpts of which were published on the channel's website, Nuland nevertheless recognized that the United States allocated five billion to support democracy in Ukraine.
"This money has been spent to support the desire of the people of Ukraine to a stronger, democratic government that represents their interests," said Nuland. But she stressed that the US "did not spend money to support the Maidan." According to her, it was a "spontaneous movement".
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