KIEV, Jan. 30 - The Visegrad Group, an alliance of four Central European countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) aimed at promoting European integration and cooperation, has expressed its concern about the use of force in Ukraine during mass protests.

"We strongly condemn the cycle of violence which has already resulted in several fatalities. This cannot be justified by any reason," the Visegrad Group's prime ministers said in a joint statement whose English-language version is available on Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's website.