In an attempt to appease the demonstrators who, despite increasing police violence, have for weeks have camped in the streets of Kiev, Ukraine in a growing call for revolution, authorities announced Saturday the opening of an investigation into the officials responsible for a vicious crackdown on protesting students last month.

Al Jazeera reports:

The officials are being investigated for their role in the November 30 crackdown when dozens of protesters, mostly students, were violently evicted from Kiev’s Independence Square. Many were beaten on the head and limbs and dragged on the ground.

Amid news of the investigation, tens of thousands of Ukranians took to the streets of Kiev Saturday in a set of rival protests. Reuters reports Ukrainians in support of President Viktor Yanukovich were separated by a line of riot police from the anti-government protesters who had camped out ahead of a mass opposition rally scheduled for Sunday.