Ukraine’s protest amnesty law takes effect
KYIV, Feb. 17 — The amnesty law, which drops criminal charges against
protesters arrested during the unrest in Ukraine between Dec. 27 and Feb. 2,
took effect on Monday, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office.
During the weekend, demonstrators ended their occupation of administrative
buildings across the country and dismantled some barricades in central Kyiv in a
move to fulfill the amnesty conditions set by the authorities.
On Friday, Ukrainian police released all those arrested during protests and
pledged to drop criminal charges against them if their peers abandon the
administrative buildings they have seized.
To back the country’s European integration, massive protests have been taking
place nationwide since November. The rallies turned violent on Jan. 19 when
radical activists attacked riot police with fireworks and petrol bombs.
The unrest has left at least four people dead and hundreds of others injured,
including police officers.