Ukraine: Woman Dragged By Hair From Street

A woman protesting against the Russian occupation of Crimea in Ukraine has been dragged away by the hair and bundled into a police van.

The activist was protesting outside parliament in the region's capital Simferopol at a pro-Russian rally.

"It is a very hostile situation," said Sky's Alex Rossi at the scene.

"She has been bundled into a police van ... I think she has been pepper-sprayed.

"The Cossacks, who are now acting like a militia, manhandled the woman to the police.

"Sometimes it is hard to know who is the law here.

"They call themselves 'self-defence units' and they claim they are only protecting ethnic Russians from Ukrainian nationalists.

"But the government in Kiev alleges these men are thugs, sent by the Kremlin to enforce Moscow's agenda.

"They were an intimidating presence outside the parliament as the referendum on Crimea's future was brought forward to March 16.

"Some are local, many are not. But it is not clear who is giving them orders," he added.

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