Canada's embassy in Kyiv was used as a haven for several days by anti-government protesters during the revolution that toppled former president Viktor Yanukovych. The Canadian Press has learned the extraordinary incident occurred in February, 2014 at the height of the violent crackdown against pro-European protesters. A protester being chased by riot police is said to have waved a Canadian passport at embassy security and -- once the door was open -- the individual was quickly followed in by other demonstrators. NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar says Canada played a dangerous game. (Some of Canada's European allies, speaking on background, say the fact protesters were allowed to remain at the embassy made it appear that Canada was an active participant in regime change, and not just lending moral support.)

Date: 2015-07-13
Placeline: OTTAWA.
Source: The Canadian Press
Length: 19 seconds

Transcript Prediction: << you know if things had gone the other way we would have had potentially a situation where I had not only would have been putting our credibility under the microscope but also the Safety and Security of our Foreign Service people >>

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