Our people in the Eastern Ukraine are fine but the hotel biz family in Crimea are in a difficult position without being able to access banking accounts. They also report that those leaving the Crimea on trains are stopped in rural areas and the contents of suitcases are thrown on the ground and gone through via armed men lacking insignia.
Of course they have disagreements with the EU’s approach to many things and one of those is the death penalty. My wife’s grandmother was murdered during a robbery and one of those convicted was released after six years from an eight-year sentence which is typical of Euro-weenie justice. The EU browbeats trade countries over their “enlightened” sense of trendy limp-wristed penalties.
There are several separatist's ‘thug’ groups on the fringes of the cities East and South the closer one gets to Ukraine..and a Islamic Muslim interferferance which is among there as well. These groups know they can mask up and get military fatigues to "control" what they wish...some have already been brought into Kiev. But on the whole Kiev has yet to control the criminal element enough to bring stability, which is why ‘OSCE’ has just arrived in Ukraine...the final vote was Friday and they left right away so should be there soon if not already..over 100 of them to facilitate dialogue and determine who the ‘thugs’ are roaming about....they can bring in up to 400 if necessary...the mission is to get Ukraine's Gov./police force etc. on track to identify and control situations and happenings they currently can't or won't...and investigate other happenings among the criminal elements as well.
Not surprising this was delayed a week because Obama was insisting that Crimea be mandated along with Ukraine and this even after the Referendum to go with Russia...... Putin of course wanted no goupse in Russia/Crimea and was no reason for since Russia had now control there.(Obama was stupid to even demand this)... but Obam continued to press the issue with the EU for a week...... Putin had agreed to begin with OSCE going in, He's a member state amoing them....but without including Crimea..So once Eu determined Crimea would not be mandated or mentioned in the final document and agreement, (Constructive Ambiguity) it was full speed ahead........so Obama lost this one as well.
Keep in mind there were 56 or 57 nation representatives voting on this and the one holding it up was Obama.