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| Massive anti-government rallies in Kyiv (Image: INews) |
Tens of thousands of protesters have gathered since the morning on Tuesday
in front of the building of Ukrainian Parliament as the Parliament was expected
to discuss the non-confidence motion to the government and its resignation
initiated recently by the oppositional forces.
People have filled all the area in front of the Parliament, though the
situation is tense with the alternative meeting of Yanukovich’s and government’s
supporters gathered in front of the Parliament as well. There were reportedly
nearly 150 people among the supporters of the current authorities; they were
cordoned by the police forces in order to avoid their mixing with the
anti-governmental protests. Additional security forces have been deployed on
the scene with the entrances to the building blocked and lines of riot police
and special forces “Berkut” and standing in front of the protesters.
The building of Cabinet of Ministers located near Parliament is also
blocked by the protesters demanding resignation of the current government and
stepping down of President.
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| Thousands of protesters and strong lines of riot police in front of Ukrainian Parliament (Image: Reuters) |
We would remind here that the leaders of Ukrainian oppositional forces
Arseny Yatesnyuk, Vitaly Klichko and Oleg Tyagnybok have submitted to the
Parliament the project of the non-confidence motion to the Parliament and the
draft law regarding resignation of Cabinet of Ministers. This project was
registered by Parliament’s speaker Mr. Rybak. In addition to that special
parliamentarian committee has recommended the Parliament to vote for this
project one day before.
The session of Ukrainian Parliament has started on Tuesday with
thousands of people gathered in front of the Parliament’s building demanding
the change of the regime and resignation of both President and government.
Despite the official procedure and the rules imposed by law Cabinet of
Ministers and Prime Ministers weren’t present in the Parliament’s session hall.
This move embarrassed opposition and the MPs as the government has received
official invitation from Parliament’s speaker.
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| Prime Minister Mykola Azarov in Parliament during the emergency session (Image: Ukrainian Foto) |
The additional project was submitted to the speaker aiming to bring the
ministers and Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to Parliament. After speaker Mr.
Rybak has out the demand to the Cabinet of Ministers to arrive in the session’s
hall 338 MPs voted in favor of this decision. Parliament demanded the presence
of Mykola Azarov and Cabinet of Ministers in Parliament.
After short pause Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and Cabinet of Ministers
appeared in the session hall of Parliament and the meeting resumed.
However, the voting for the resignation of Cabinet of Ministers has
failed as only 186 MPs from the needed 226 have voted in favor of it. Among
those supported the decision were the oppositional parties (Vitaly Klichko’s
UDAR, Arseny Yatsenyuk’s Batkivshchyna (Homeland) and Oleg Tyagnybok’s Svoboda
(Freedom)) and several independent MPs. One member of the ruling Party of
Regions has also voted in favor of this decision.
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| Protesters in front of Parliament (Image: Алексей Нарышкин) |
Communist Party refused to
vote. Party of Regions has also declared its members won’t support the demand
of the government’s resignation as they are sure government must work under the
current circumstances and its dismissal will destabilize the situation in
Ukraine more. Despite the recent statements made by several ex-members of Party
of Regions including Inna Bogoslvska and David Zhvania, who were especially
active in condemning the current regime and stating their readiness to vote for
the Cabinet’s resignation, they didn’t vote during today’s session.
Thus the procedure of non-confidence motion to the government and its
resignation initiated by the opposition has failed. Oppositional forces are
currently discussing the roadmap of their further actions and ways to resolve
the situation.
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| Snapshot of the Parliament's official channel showing the session of Parliament. The results of voting for the resagnationof Cabinet of Ministers (Image: Євромайдан) |
Prime Minister Mykola Azarov made a statement during the Parliament’s
session expressing his apologies regarding the recent violent dispersal of the
peaceful sit-in on Independence Square on Saturday and terrible clashes and
beating by “Berkut” near Presidential Administration on Sunday. He claimed
neither he nor President knew about it and they didn’t give the orders for it.
Ukrainian Prime Minister blamed security forces and riot police for the recent
clashes stating these decisions were taken by their officers.
In addition to that he promised the restructuring and staff changes in
the Cabinet of Ministers and stated that the talks with EU regarding the
cooperation and association will resume with the discussing of the economic package
and financial aid to Ukraine. Government also plans to resume the talks with
IMF (International Monetary Fund).
President Victor Yanukovich didn’t make any official statements since
his Sunday’s interview to several journalists. Though it was reported by his
spokesperson that he is expected to visit China and Russia and these visits
cannot be cancelled due to the hard economical situation in the country.
According to the recent reports of media Victor Yanukovich flew to China today
and isn’t presented in Ukraine.
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| Ukrainian oppositional leaders Oleg Tyagnybok, Arseny Yatsenyuk and Vitaly Klichko |
Meanwhile opposition is calling for the anti-government protesters to
march to the Presidential Administration and no continue the nationwide strikes
and massive demonstrations. Massive column of protesters moved towards Bankova
Street where President’s office is located. According to the statements of
oppositional leaders, protesters will demand early presidential and
parliamentary elections.
It’s worth mentioning that European politicians
have expressed their concerns over the recent situation in Ukraine and urged
the government to stop using the excessive force against the peaceful protesters
and to listen to the demands of the people and to allow them to express their
point of view. European Parliament has started today’s session with Ukrainian
symbolic demonstrating their solidarity with Ukrainian revolution.
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