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Verkhovna Rada (editor’s note – Ukrainian parliament) voted on Tuesday morning, 28 January, on abolition of most legislative amendments and modifications adopted on 16 January, including those related to defamation in mass media and on NGOs funded from abroad. Thus, according to New Eastern Europe and Kyiv Post, following negotiations between authorities and the opposition on Monday evening, Members of Parliament voted with 361 votes “for” abolition of nine of the 12 amendments.
Natalia Sad, program coordinator of Internews Ukraine, said on Tuesday for Media Azi that the provisions that had been voted for abolition include the ones related to defamation in mass media and the amendment requiring NGOs funded from abroad to be considered “foreign agents” and to pay taxes from their “income.”
“So far, we are cautiously happy and waiting what will happen at the extraordinary meeting of the Verkhovna Rada at 16.00,” Natalia Sad added. She also mentioned that at this meeting MPs were expected to vote on abolition on the other three provisions and to reach a consensus with the opposition to resolve conflicts in Ukraine.
“Nine initiatives have been abolished, but no one mentions the fact that 235 MPs voted for them on 16 January. They should be held responsible for breaching the Constitution and, implicitly, citizens’ rights and freedoms. (…) Yes, it is a victory of Euromaidan, but what did it cost?” Natalia Sad concluded.
On the other hand, according to the former minister of defense Anatoly Hritsenko, “mad” prosecutors and judges may continue applying these laws if their abolition is not signed urgently by the Verkhovna Rada Speaker Volodimir Rybak, sent to President Yanukovych for signing and then published in the official gazette of Ukraine. Also, Ukrainian communists came with a new legislative proposal to punish Euromaidan activists, which is also to be discussed in the Rada at 16.00.
Dunja Mijatovic, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, welcomed on Tuesday the consensus reached between President Viktor Yanukovych and leaders of the Ukrainian opposition on abolishing the set of legislative amendments adopted on 16 January, including the ones limiting press freedom. She encouraged the country’s leadership to sign their abolition as soon as possible, and reiterated her willingness to visit Ukraine to discuss the situation of journalist in this country.
On Tuesday morning Ukraine’s Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned his post, saying that he wanted to create “additional opportunities for a socio-political compromise and peaceful settlement of the conflict.”
Demonstrations in Kiev, which began in late November, became deadly on 22 January, when at least three protesters were killed by police bullets. Over 300 people, including many journalists, were also injured. Violence is still concentrated around Hrushvskoho Street near the Dynamo stadium, but protests quickly spread throughout the country, with people occupying several buildings of local and regional public authorities.
Source of photo: AFP PHOTO/ SERGEI SUPINSKY
