Bowing to intense pressure from the West, Ukraine allowed a severely injured anti-government activist to fly to Lithuania for medical treatment for wounds he says were inflicted on him by mysterious pro-government men with Russian accents.

“Without the support of the European community, this would not have happened,” said former heavyweight boxer and opposition leader Vitali Klitscho.  “International pressure gives us a chance to fight for freedom in Ukraine.”

35-year old Dmytro Bulatov had turned up in hospital after being missing for several days, his face and body severely bloodied and his hands injured.  He says he was crucified during the ordeal.  Protesters rushed to the hospital to block the doors as police showed up with an arrest warrant, claiming he lied about the episode.  Bulatov is a leader of the Automaidan faction of protesters mainly of drivers who would protect the protest camps and blockade streets.

The Ukraine government seems only capable of provoking outrage.  While the president was signing laws that would give immunity to protesters if the barricades come down, his foreign minister said Bulatov was a liar with “a scratch on one of his cheeks,” despite the existence of video showing the man’s face had been disfigured.