Russian prepared to seize Ukraine's parliament and cabinet buildings

Bakhtiyarov was training a group of people who pretended to be civil activists to seize the buildings of Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers, UNIAN reports. He gathered up to 200 people, organized supplies of Molotov cocktails, bats, extension ladders and other things needed to assault the state buildings. Bakhtiyarov reportedly promised to pay each member of his group up to $500.

Bakhtiyarov's plan was to destabilize the situation in Ukraine and disrupt the presidential election campaign, according to Ukraine's security officials.

He is reported to have agreed with certain Russian TV channels to cover the raid on the parliament and the cabinet.

Interrogations are in progress.

Photo: UNIAN