Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov slammed Europe on Wednesday for ignoring the rise of "fascism" in Ukraine and demanded a full investigation into the death of dozens of separatist activists in Odessa violence last week.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov slammed Europe on Wednesday for ignoring the rise of "fascism" in Ukraine and demanded a full investigation into the death of dozens of separatist activists in Odessa violence last week.

"For many years, Europe has been turning a blind eye to how fascism has been gaining new supporters, how its proponents are recruiting new followers," news agencies quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying at a public reception in Moscow.

 "What happened in Odessa on May 2 is pure fascism," said Lavrov.
"We will not allow the facts to be swept under the carpet, as the ruling coalition is now trying to do."

A blaze at a trade union building in the southern Ukrainian port city left 42 people dead, mostly separatist activists.

Activists accuse Ukraine army of deliberately causing the blaze in Odessa.