Ukraine President Yanukovych accepts resignation of PM Azarov, cabinet
28 January 2014, 17:55
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in a decree on Tuesday accepted the offer of resignation from Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and the entire cabinet.
'I accept the resignation of Mykola Azarov and as a consequence the resignation of the entire Ukrainian government,' read the text of the decree published on the presidency website.
He requested they stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new government is named.
Earlier on Tuesday, Azarov has submitted his resignation amid an ongoing political turmoil in the country.
'The conflict situation in the country threatens economic and social development in Ukraine and poses a threat to the whole Ukrainian society and each citizen in the country,' the government press service quoted Azarov as saying.
In his words, the government was doing everything possible for peaceful settlement of the conflict during standoff. 'We did and are doing everything possible to avert bloodshed, escalation of violence and violations of human rights. The government has provided for economy and social security system to work in extreme conditions,' the prime minister noted, adding that an acute and dangerous conflict for Ukrainian citizens and fate of the country demands additional responsible steps.
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Mykola Azarov was Ukraine's First Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister from 2002 to 2005 and again from 2006 to 2007. Azarov also served ex officio as an acting Prime Minister in the First Yanukovych Government when Viktor Yanukovych ran for president at first and then upon resignation of his government.
Following the victory of Viktor Yanukovych in the 2010 presidential election, Azarov succeeded Yanukovych as leader of the Party of Regions, and he was appointed as a fully fledged Prime Minister on 11 March 2010.
Ukraine parliament repeals objected by opposition anti-protest law
The Ukrainian parliament repeals nine January 16 laws, including objected by opposition law toughening liability for violations at protest rallies.
Lawmakers gathered for an extraordinary session of parliament designed to soothe persistent political tensions playing out against the backdrop of protests across the former Soviet nation.
The decision to repeal the anti-protest law was supported by 361 deputies out of 412. Two deputies voted against, and 49 abstained.
Passage of the vote was greeted by applause in the chamber.
The introduction of a package of laws designed to severely curb the freedom to protest earlier this month sparked a wave of violent confrontations between radical demonstrators and police, marring what had until then been weeks of otherwise peaceful anti-government protests.
Also Tuesday, parliament was set to consider the creation of a constitutional reform commission, said Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a leader of the opposition Batkivshchyna party.
Opposition parties have earlier called for a return to the constitutional reforms of 2004, which they say would hand greater authority to parliament.
Those reforms were overturned in 2010 by the Constitutional Court, which ordered a reversal to the 1996 constitution.
A street-based movement opposing the government emerged in the wake of the Cabinet's surprise decision in late November to back away from establishing closer ties with the EU, but expanded with time to encompass broader anti-government goals.
In a sign that public discontent is taking an increasing toll on the country's leadership, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov announced Tuesday that he was offering his resignation.
'The acute and dangerous conflict for our people, for the fate of Ukraine, demands further responsible steps,' Azarov said in a statement posted on the Cabinet's website.
His resignation should also lead to dissolution of the Cabinet of ministers.
'In order to create additional opportunities for social and political compromise, for the peaceful settlement of conflict, I have taken a personal decision to ask the president of Ukraine to accept my resignation,' Azarov said in his statement.
It was unclear early Tuesday afternoon, however, whether Azarov's decision to step aside would lead to a softening in the position of the emboldened opposition, which is demanding fresh elections.
Prime Minister Azarov hands in resignation amidst violent protests in Ukraine
Ukranian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has resigned on Tuesday, reported cabinet press service. As Azarov himself explained, he did it for the sake of a peaceful solution to the political crisis in Ukraine.
'The conflict situation in the state is threatening the economic and social development of Ukraine, jeopardizing the whole Ukrainian society and every citizen,' Ukranian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said in a statement.
In his words, the government was doing everything possible for peaceful settlement of the conflict during standoff.
'During the confrontation, the government made everything for a peaceful solution of the conflict. We did and are doing everything to prevent bloodshed, escalation of violence, violations of human rights. The government ensured the functioning of the economy and social protection systems in the extreme conditions,' Azarov noted.
'However, the severity and risk of the conflict for our citizens, for the fate of Ukraine require additional responsible steps', he added. Azarov noted. 'In order to create additional opportunities for a public political compromise, for the sake of a peaceful settlement of the conflict, I've made a personal decision to request the President of Ukraine to accept my resignation from the post of Prime Minister of Ukraine.'
In his words, he did everything possible for Ukraine will be able to develop well as a democratic European country: 'I took decisions and assumed responsibility in the interests of the people of Ukraine. And therefore, I can honestly look into the eyes of every citizen of our state, every compatriot.
I am grateful for the confidence of the President of Ukraine. I am grateful to all members of Parliament, who supported the complicated work of the Government on modernizing and reforming the country during all these years.
I am grateful to all the citizens of Ukraine, who supported the Government and me personally, believed and continue to believe in the correctness of the political course conducted by us.
The most important thing today is to preserve the unity and integrity of Ukraine. It is more important than someone's personal plans or ambitions.
That's why I've made this decision.'
Ukranian opposition leader Yatsenyuk not to take Prime Minister post
Leader of Ukraine's Batkivshchyna parliamentary faction Arseniy Yatsenyk has no intention of accepting the post of prime minister.
'I am not thinking of taking the prime minister's post,' the ITAR-TASS news agency quoted Yatsenyuk as saying on Tuesday.
Yatsenyuk refused to comment on reports about Prime Minister Mykola Azarov's resignation.
'There should be a presidential decree. Actually, I don't want to discuss it,' he told reporters on the sidelines of an emergency session of the Verkhovna Rada.
Klitschko says Ukraine PM resignation only 'a step to victory'
World boxing champion and Ukraine opposition leader Vitali Klitschko on Tuesday said Prime Minister Mykola Azarov's announced resignation was only 'a step to victory'.
'The issue of the government's resignation and the issue of the government's liability are on today's agenda. I am certain this [resignation statement] is not accidental. He knows that he will do everything he can to save face,' Klitschko told reporters on Tuesday.
'For several months we have been saying that what is happening in the streets is also the result of the policies of the current government. This is not victory but a step to victory,' said Klitschko, leader of the UDAR (Punch) party.
Voice of Russia, AFP, AP, Reuters, RIA, TASS
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