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The TV programme 'Money' announces a unique action.
We are ready to pay 'titushky' [thugs, sportsmen and hooligans sponsored by the government].
Now they are paid 200 UAH [eq. 23 USD] for assaults on the protestors.
We will give 300 UAH to everybody who will tell us
who orders the massacres.
Titusky are de facto legalised by the authorities.
In this video recorded yesterday [26 January] in the building of Dnipropetrovsk state administration
you can see policemen along with dozens of young people wearing civilian cloth
and yellow ribbons at their arms.
They protect the building from seizure.
The police give them bats and their shields.
Though not everybody can use the latter.
The regional state administration in Zaporizhzhzya was protected by a special police unit 'Berkut'
together with a special unit 'Titushky'.
Last night in Zaporizhzhya, Dnipropetrovsk,
Sumy and Cherkassy
as a joint army, titushky hand in hand with police
brutally dispersed the protestors from the streets.
The sportsmen were given traumatic weapons
and the right to beat everybody.
The night was hot.
Everyone who was on the streets was packed in a police van.
Hundreds were beaten,
dozens were arrested.
Not only the protestors and usual passbyers,
but also Ukrainian and foreign journalists got hurt.
On the streets of East Ukrainian cities that night
a striking representative of the interior forces
forbad the journalists to perform their duties:
"(inaudible)...if I see you I'll kill. Have you undersood?"
Kyiv titushky are not so brave.
They do not dare to walk on the night streets of Kyiv.
They know well what can happen to them.
In Kyiv, the group of sportsmen hired by the government
is based in the rear of the interior troops, near Arsenalna metro station.
"We are seventy people here now".
The programme 'Money' has managed to talk
to the leader of one of Kyiv titushky groups.
At least this is what he called himself.
"Are you with them?" - "I am their superior."
The man acknowledges that they have sold their precious skills
to police for not much money.
"Lady, I am able to pay money myself."
"A scumbag throwing a Molotov cocktail into police on Maidan is paid 300 EUR."
The man reassures that one does not need to be scared of them.
They merely protect public order.
"We are here to secure that nothing bad happens here."
The Ministry of Interior says that they do not know from where youth armed with bats
came from to protect the administration buildings in the East along with police.
"We will investigate who they are...
They seem volunteers. And who asked them for help?!"
"We have sufficient own forces and means and we act legally.
We also investigate the facts of involvement of so called titushky and their unlawful acts."
Mariinski park is the most famous location of Kyiv special unit 'Titusky'.
"Why do you needs sticks? Can I hold?
It is not very heavy."
It is believed that people stand here only for money.
"We support". - "Whom?" - "Yanukovych."
The TV programme 'Money' decides to penetrate this commercial, political and criminal world.
There are plenty of announcements on the Internet.
Young males are needed. Experience in sports is welcome.
"For whom will I stand for?"
- "For the government. For the president." - "For the Party of Regions?" - "Yes"
Three different people are ready to pay for our presence at the Verkhovna Rada.
A meeting in the morning next to the metro station.
The main issue of the discussion is how not to get cheated.
"They dupe everybody. A fellow came, gathered 100 people, swindled all and gained 10 grand for 5 hours."
It is a genuine financial pyramid.
For every friend you bring you get extra.
"There are foremen in charge of every ten and every hundred people.
If a foreman gives you 10 UAH for bring 5 people, imagine how much he gets per person."
Businesslike recruiters quickly receive money for us and disappear.
Now we have a new chief.
A man from unknown youth organisation.
"Guys, stand here. 5 persons in a row."
Many do not conceal that they are here for money.
"The payment is 200 UAH per night from 8pm to 8am.
If I had money, I would have never come here."
In general, interesting people have gathered here.
This man is a chief of one of numerous titushky groups.
He has convictions and complains that
he is on the hook of the law enforcement agencies.
That's why he carried out an order to gather experienced fellows.
They will be paid differently.
"150 UAH in the beginning and 25 UAH per hour.
For 10 hours you have 250 UAH, for 20 hours - 500 UAH
plus 150, you have 650.
This is around 100 USD."
So titushky gain times more than usual demonstrators with the Party of Regions flags.
And they do not show up until
they get the 'Go ahead' command.
For example, the kick-boxers and special police veterans
surnames of which we have obtained
are waiting in the buses that occupy side streets in the capital.
Many titushky hide outside the city.
It is hard to believe that the order to gather a team of provocateurs
was recevied by a member of the Parliament, as he said, directly from an assistant of the regional governor.
On their way from a province to Kyiv
buses with titushky are severely controlled by road police
so they cannot get lost.
"In order to get paid, road policemen have to sign a form
that you have passed points A, B and C."
"Your form?" - "They have their own forms for that."
The worst is that as soon as titushky get a command,
they are ready to launch provocations.
Blood is an integral part of their contract.
"In Kyiv, if there is a need to pressure someone,
they will command to go ahead."
Meanwhile, in Luhansk and Kharkiv regions,
officials openly called strong men
to defend the authorities.
The opposition deputies report that in the Eastern regions
titushky have already been handed out traumatic weapons.
"We, members of Luhansk regional council,
give a mandate to establish people's militia
to protect public order."
A marginal fighter from Bila Tserkva Vadym Titushko
has become a historic figure.
An entire sub-culture is named after him.
Recently, he has got competitors.
"Here we are, titushky- musicians,
200 UAH knights."
The internet audience is entertained by Titushko trio band.
The musicians sing their songs about
a difficult fate of the new special unit.