UPDATED - Lviv 2022 Bid Pushes On Despite Deadly Ukraine Violence

(ATR) As violence rages in Kiev, the chief executive of Lviv’s 2022 Olympic campaign tells Around the Rings the deadly protests have

After a truce broke down, renewed clashes between police and protesters have left at least demonstrators dead and many injured. Nearly 70 police have been taken hostage by protesters, the BBC reported.

On Wednesday, at least 25 protesters and police were killed and hundreds were injured in rioting sparked by the Ukraine parliament’s delays in approving constitutional reforms as four months of unrest continued.

Speaking to ATR on the sidelines of the Sochi Games, Sergey Gontcharov said work on the bid had been continuing until the truce collapsed.

"It’s not normal, we are not working as normal," he told ATR today.

"Our office is closed, and our staff is not coming in."

Commenting on the eruption of violence in Kiev today, the latest spike in deadly rioting dating back to November, he said: "We understand that this situation needs to be resolved and resolved peacefully before we can legitimately or seriously be considered as future hosts of the Olympic Games."

Gontcharov said he he hoped Ukraine would emerge from the bloodshed and violence "a nation stronger" and "can focus unified on the bid".

Would the rioting by anti-government protesters be mentioned in the applicant file due to the IOC by March 14?

He said the dossier "speaks more about concept and current infrastructure not about politics so much". "We will consider to address it in the dossier but for sure it is being addressed in communications with our IOC colleagues."

Reported and written by Ed Hula and Mark Bisson.

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