Ukraine mourning killed in protests amid MPs' atempts to topple Yanukovych
22 February 2014, 21:16
In spite of yesterday's peace deal sealed between Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and protest leaders, people still remain in the Kiev streets waiting for the latest developments and moves of the country's leadership. The Voice of Russia contacted our correspondent in the Ukrainian capital, Yaroslava Kobinets, who told us about protesters' reaction to the Verkhovna Rada recent decisions, the President's response and public sentiment.
Yaroslava, what is going on in Kiev right now? And how did the protesters react to the agreement reached between President Yanukovych and the opposition?
Right now the protesters gained full control of the government district in Ukraine's capital. Still we don't know where President Viktor Yanukovych is. Right now he gave an interview to one of the Ukrainian TV channels and he said that he refuses to resign and he called all these events a coup. Yesterday or maybe a few days earlier he left his residence in Mezhyhirya, which is not far from Kiev.
And since today's morning people went there to be the first ones to enter this territory, because it was closed for a long time. Journalists found very important government documents there. Someone form the Yanukovych's office tried to destroy them, but failed. And also there was found a lot of jewelry, a lot of precious things and some old automobiles and a lot of different precious things.
The Ukrainian Parliament Verkhovnaya Rada has elected Alexander Turtshinov as the speaker. The opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko calls for new presidential elections by the end of May this year. And maybe today the Parliament will vote for Yanukovych to resign.
Also they have already voted to release Yulia Tymoshenko and also voted for returning to the constitution of 2004. The Parliament has also elected the opposition lawmaker Arsen Avakov as the Interior Minister on Saturday. He will take power after Vitaly Zakharchenko who was dismissed by the Ukrainian Parliament.
Meanwhile, the eastern and southern regions met in Kharkov. The Verkhovnaya Rada blamed them of separatism. In Kharkov members of this congress produced a resolution to ensure the constitutional order in Kiev. But still, there is a big question about the legitimacy of this meeting.
Also, there are hundreds of protests in all the Ukrainian regions. It seems that the main goal of them is to withdraw Lenin monuments and I must admit that in most of the regions this goal is successfully achieved.
Yesterday people on the Independence Square said goodbye to the dead protesters who were killed during all these days of violence. This was a very sad mourning ceremony and today and tomorrow are the days mourning for the victims of these protests in Ukraine.
You've mentioned Tymoshenko, are there any updates about her release?
Right now there is different news that she has already left the jail and that she has not. The last update is that she hasn't left the hospital in Kharkov, but she may be free any moment.
Also you've mentioned that the deputies are meeting at the moment. I just want to know what the people are saying about the ongoing meeting in Kharkiv, which has brought together those deputies representing the south and eastern parts Ukraine?
There were protesting people, but these were mainly EuroMaidan supporters and they were against this meeting, because they think that it can be unconstitutional. So, I think the Ukrainian Parliament should and will take this into account.
Angela Davis
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