Ukraine's President Vows Amnesty, Gov’t Reshuffle

[dipsydoodle]

Source: RIA Novosti

KIEV, January 24 (RIA Novsoti) – In a bid to ease growing tensions in the country, Ukraine’s president announced on Friday that the country’s parliament would next week consider pardoning detained political activists and reshuffling the government’s top ministers.

Viktor Yanukovych said at a meeting with public and religious leaders that all detained protesters who are not suspected of grave crimes would be released under amnesty currently being prepared by the Ukrainian parliament.

He said he would also attend an emergency Verkhovna Rada session next week to discuss a reshuffle of his cabinet of ministers.

“Together with lawmakers, we will make a decision about a reshuffle in order to find an option for a more professional government,” he said.

The president also vowed to amend recent anti-protest laws whose adoption triggered violent clashes between protesters and police in the capital Kiev on January 19.

Read more: http://en.ria.ru/world/20140124/186891226/Ukraines-President-Vows-Amnesty-Govt-Reshuffle.html

[BelgianMadCow]

1. Great news

thanks for posting, dipsydoodle. Nice to see a government respond to public pressure, and I hope we don't have to see these ugly scenes again in the Ukraine.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Ukraine crisis: Yanukovych 'concessions' fail to end unrest

Violence has continued in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, after President Viktor Yanukovych promised to make concessions to try to end the country's crisis.

As dawn broke on Saturday, fires still burned in the city centre. Overnight, protesters threw rocks and petrol bombs at police, who responded with tear gas.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25881563

Ukraine peaceful means "futile"

Ukraine interior ministry says efforts to resolve unrest peacefully are "futile" - says protesters have arms

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25894296