Author Topic: Ukraine's prime minister Mykola Azarov tenders resignation  (Read 620 times)

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Offline EC

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Ukraine's prime minister Mykola Azarov tenders resignation
« on: January 28, 2014, 07:48:42 pm »
Via the Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/28/ukraine-prime-minister-mykola-azarov-resigns

Quote
Ukrainian prime minister Mykola Azarov offered his resignation on Tuesday, saying he hoped the move would help bring a peaceful resolution to the crisis that has gripped the country for two months.

"The conflict situation which has come about in the country is threatening the economic and social development of Ukraine, creating a threat to the whole of Ukrainian society and to each citizen," said Azarov, adding that he had personally asked President Viktor Yanukovich to accept his resignation.

Under the constitution, the departure of the prime minister means the resignation of the entire government.

The pro-western protests in Kiev began on 21 November after Yanukovych shelved a long-planned political and economic treaty with the European Union, then accepted a huge bailout package from the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, instead. The crisis was aggravated in recent days when protesters and police clashed violently.

Azarov's statement was released as the parliament opened a special session expected to repeal harsh anti-protest laws that were imposed this month. Those laws set off the clashes between police and protesters, in which at least three protesters died.

More at link.

I find the timing very intriguing. A week after Ukraine chooses to strengthen ties with Russia rather than joining the EU as the majority of the population wanted, and a day after a nuclear umbrella treaty was signed with China.
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Offline EC

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Re: Ukraine's prime minister Mykola Azarov tenders resignation
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2014, 07:51:20 pm »
More on this, from the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukraine-president-will-scrap-anti-protest-law/2014/01/27/8e4d613e-879f-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html

Ukraine president will scrap anti-protest law

By Jim Heinz and Maria Danilova, Published: January 27

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s beleaguered president on Monday agreed to scrap harsh anti-protest laws that set off a wave of clashes between protesters and police over the past week.

In a statement on the presidential Web site, Justice Minister Elena Lukash said that in a meeting with top opposition figures and President Viktor Yanukovych on Monday night, “a political decision was made on scrapping the laws of Jan. 16, which aroused much discussion.”

Yanukovych pushed those laws through parliament. Three days later clashes with police broke out, a sharp escalation of tensions after weeks of mostly peaceful protests.

Eliminating the laws, which is likely to be done in a special parliament session Tuesday, would be a substantial concession to the opposition. But it does not meet all their demands, which include Yanukovych’s resignation.

One of the opposition figures, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, turned down the prime minister’s job, which Yanukovych offered him on Saturday.
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