Special

forces were deployed along with police negotiators on Aug. 3 when a rally in

Kharkiv erupted into violent clashes, with pro-Ukrainian activists driving supporters

of the Opposition Bloc into a building in a scene frighteningly reminiscent of

the May 2 Odesa tragedy.

The events started out peacefully on July 30, with local residents staging a protest in support of the Opposition Bloc registering for local elections. Another rally was held by pro-Ukrainian activists to protest the party’s registration, according to international monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which observed the two separate

rallies.