Ukraine Scraps Anti-Dissent Laws
KYIV, Ukraine–Ukraine’s parliament voted Tuesday to abolish a raft of anti-dissent legislation passed earlier this
month and the prime minister offered his resignation, in the government’s latest effort to placate a protest movement
that has seized control of parts of the country.
But the moves are unlikely to satisfy opposition leaders who are demanding snap presidential elections and for now
appear to have the government on the defensive.
The political crisis was sparked by the president’s abrupt move to scuttle a deal with European leaders last year,
followed by a crackdown on those who opposed President Viktor Yanukovych’s move. Protest leaders have so far called the
president’s concessions too little too late, and appear to be in no mood to compromise with him as protesters have
seized government buildings in the west and center of the country.
Supported by ruling and opposition parties, 361 lawmakers in the 450-seat chamber voted in favor of canceling the
laws, which had further enraged protesters.
Parliament later restored a handful of the less-controversial laws, including toughening criminal punishment for
destroying monuments to people who fought the Nazis during World War II.
Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, a Russia-born hard-liner who has lately called protesters terrorists, has wielded
limited actual power in the post under Mr. Yanukovych. His resignation was widely expected, since Mr. Yanukovych has
lately used the prime minister’s job as a bargaining chip in negotiations with opposition leaders.
“Azarov offered his resignation this morning in order to save face,” said opposition leader Vitali Klitschko.
Mr. Klitschko said authorities must stop repression, including detentions of protesters across the country.
Mr. Klitschko, a former world boxing champion, hailed a wave of protests in Mr. Yanukovych’s stronghold in the east of
the country in recent days as “a big step toward victory.”
It isn’t clear what practical impact Mr. Azarov’s proffered resignation will have. There was no word Tuesday on
whether Mr. Yanukovych had accepted his resignation. Mr. Azarov will remain as acting prime minister until a new
government is appointed.
“The main idea of the protest was not a new government,” said Viktor Zamyatin, analyst at the Razumkov Center, a Kyiv-
based think tank. “The aim was to stop repressions, to punish the people responsible and for the resignation of
Yanukovych.”
Mr. Azarov announced over a government website that he he handed in his resignation “with the aim of creating an
additional possibility for a political compromise to peacefully resolve the conflict.”
The government has been doing “everything for a peaceful resolution of the conflict” to avoid bloodshed and escalation
of violence, Mr. Azarov said.
The resignation could step up pressure on the opposition to come up with a solution of their own to end the crisis.
Mr. Yanukovych has recently agreed to give amnesty to protesters after they withdraw from buildings and roads they are
occupying and hold a vote of no confidence in the government in Parliament.
That vote had been scheduled to take place during an extraordinary session of Parliament for Tuesday, but with Mr.
Azarov’s resignation it may not be necessary.
Katya Gorchinskaya contributed to this article.
Write to Alan Cullison at alan.cullison@wsj.com and James Marson at james.marson@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires 01-28-140355ET