Ukraine Prime Minister Resigns As Parliament Holds Crisis Debate

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: Radio Free Europe

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has resigned at the start of a special session of the country's parliament aimed at defusing two months of unrest and an alarming escalation of violence.

On the eve of the session, President Viktor Yanukovych met with three opposition leaders and agreed to repeal controversial antiprotest laws that were passed by parliament on January 16, sparking intensified protests from government critics.

In a televised statement, Justice Minister Olena Lukash -- who was present at the meeting -- said the legislation would be debated by parliament on January 28, followed by a vote on whether to rescind it.

"Also the political decision was made to repeal the law adopted on January 16 which provoked numerous discussions -- so laws which have no objections against will be voted on again," Lukash said. "The provisions of laws that are to be repealed tomorrow will be worked though again jointly by both sides and will correspond to the European standards."

Read more: http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-parliament-protests-/25244677.html

[dipsydoodle]

1. Offered but yet to be accepted.

That's at 9.33 GMT : Ukraine crisis: PM Azarov offers to quit over protests.

In his resignation statement, PM Azarov said: "To create additional opportunities for social and political compromise and for a peaceful solution to the conflict, I made a personal decision to ask the president of Ukraine to accept my resignation as prime minister of Ukraine".

The government had "done everything to ensure the peaceful resolution of the conflict" and would do "everything possible to prevent bloodshed, an escalation of violence, and violation of citizen's rights", he said.

If the president signs the decree for the PM's resignation, then the whole cabinet resigns, says the BBC's David Stern in Kiev. But they can remain in their posts for 60 days until a new government is formed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25923199

See also : Ukraine Prime Minister Azarov submits resignation updated @ 9.19 GMT

Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov has submitted his resignation, according to his government’s website. The resignation has not yet been accepted by President Viktor Yanukovich, however.

http://rt.com/news/ukrainian-minister-azarov-resigns-286/

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Resignation of PM and cabinet now accepted

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25932352

[ReRe]

2. Thanks for posting this Ukraine update! n/t

[Astraea]

3. Who are the good guys in this debate?

Are there any? I've heard that the opposition is bankrolled by Germany, and the other side is just a pawn of Russia. Who do you trust? The opposition is in the minority, but I'm not sure how trustworthy Ukraine's elections are.

[dipsydoodle]

5. I trust their everyday citizens

who didn't get dragged into the protest by the giddy up crowd.

Who wants what won't really be clear until they have elections.

Its only part of the opposition, there seem to be 3 or 4 groups from rightwing to ultra-right wing, which may be "bankrolled" by Germany - that's the boxer's crowd. I'd be careful about using the term "bankrolled" anyway : wouldn't go down too well with German taxpayers who had quite enough of their money being pissed away by Greece.

[kristopher]

7. You seem to think the sudden about face from the EU to Russia is by the "good guys"?

My understanding is that the entire gamut of ideology is rioting - both nationalistic right-wingers and prodemocracy liberals are adamant that moving the country back into the power sphere of Russia is a step backwards. It isn't as if the policy the government abruptly decided on was something that had emerged as a consensus from public debate. It was an unexpected move being shoved down the people's throats.

[dipsydoodle]

8. which"sudden about face from the EU to Russia"

For the time being they are issuing bonds to the value of $15 billion which Russia has agreed to buy , it doesn't follow anyone else would've done so and the gas price agreed to by Yulia Tymoshenko has been reduced. Nothing else has happened.

The aggregate cost of going with the EU and dumping Russia completely is reckoned to be c. €220 billion over a period of years. Please provide us all with a lucid explanation as to how that could be funded.

[kristopher]

9. That's an odd reply.

You deny the shift in your header, and then admit with your last paragraph.
In your previous post you pretended that liberals are not out in the streets.

Is there a reason you are trying to slant this event as one where the pursuit of authoritarianism is a good thing?

ETA

Reversal of Europe Deal Jolts Ukraine
Protesters Call for President's Ouster After Violent Dispersal of Demonstration
KIEV—Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Kiev, calling for the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych for his decision to suspend signing an accord with the European Union. The demonstrations were the largest since the Orange Revolution that swept a pro-Western government into power nine years ago.

The unrest posed the most serious challenge yet to the rule of Mr. Yanukovych, who came to office in 2010 vowing to improve ties with Moscow but more recently had adopted a more pro-Western line. The planned EU agreement, years in the making, was aimed at setting this former Soviet Republic of some 46 million on a firmly Western path...

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304579404579231643502475798

[dipsydoodle]

10. No its not

I alluded to the number of protesters in context with the size of their population which doesn't confirm the likely outcome of fresh elections.

I await your answer on how to fund 220 billion euros which is more or less equal to the entire bailout of Greece. If you haven't got an answer that's understandable - the opposition are quiet on that subject too.

[kristopher]

12. Do you seriously assert they are going to be better off dealing with Putin?

They had an agreement worked out with the EU.
If you want to believe that it was scuttled because Putin proposes a kinder, gentler economic reforms then I've got a bridge and a nuclear reactor I'd like you to consider.

Belarus On The Russian Energy Needle
Ryhor Astapenia 09 January 2014

This year, Russia agreed to supply Belarus with discounted oil only for the next six months, rather than for the whole year.

The size and conditions for further shipments will depend on Belarus’ participation in specific integration projects and the sale of several companies to Russia. All of this shows how the Kremlin uses Belarus' energy dependence to get what it wants.

Energy remains an area in which Russia has a very strong position in Belarus. Russia dominates the nation's gas infrastructure, oversees the work of its oil refineries and has significant influence on its electrical industry.

Although the building of a nuclear power plant looks economically beneficial, Russia`s control over the project, combined with Belarus' doubtful ability to repay the accompanying $9bn loan, raises many questions.

Currently, Russia is not using all of its energy potential to blackmail Belarus. Kremlin has possibilities to bankrupt not only individual Belarusian enterprises, but also ...

http://belarusdigest.com/story/belarus-russian-energy-needle-16594

[bemildred]

13. They will be better off if they can play the EU and Russia against each other.

Either one will rape you when they get you under control.

[kristopher]

14. Right, the EU and Putin's Russia are exactly the same.

Got it.
Although I'm still a bit foggy about where to find the details of Putin's stellar and unwavering commitment to human rights and democratic values.

[bemildred]

15. They will both be assholes to you if you have something they want.

Putin may well be the bigger asshole, but the objective in either case is not to be subject to the whims of the asshole, which requires leverage. We will serve excellently for that, as current events show.

[kristopher]

16. That isn't remotely close to what happened.

But, I guess if a person were to require one, it might make a convenient rationalization for supporting right-wing authoritarianism.

[bemildred]

17. Yeah, of course not, it's all principled and noble stands for freedom, isn't it? nt

[kristopher]

18. If you don't recognize the vast gulf between the EU and Russia...

...there is a very fundamental problem with your values.

[bemildred]

19. That is Occam's Razor, we are not a special entity.

We may be a bit better, or not, but we are not different. I don't think much or your values either. Arrogance is not a value in my book.

[kristopher]

20. I see. Being against right wing authoritarianism is "arrogance" in your book.

I plead guilty to extreme arrogance then.

But not caring about the difference between open democratic institutions and said right wing authoritarianism?
That takes a special breed.

[bemildred]

21. Thinking you are better than other people is arrogant. Deal with it. nt

[kristopher]

22. At least I don't insist on equating RW authoritarianism with open democracy.

Your position is beyond belief.

[bemildred]

23. Have a nice day. nt

[dipsydoodle]

6. Ukraine lawmakers consider protester amnesty

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -- Ukraine's parliament is considering measures to grant amnesty to those arrested during weeks of protests in the crisis-torn country, but possibly with conditions attached that would be unacceptable to the opposition.

Two amnesty proposals are up for a parliamentary vote Wednesday, one of which says amnesty would be granted only if demonstrators leave the streets and vacate buildings that they occupy.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UKRAINE_PROTESTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-01-29-05-03-26

[melm00se]

11. Are Viktor Yanukovych's

ties to Putin wise and good for the Ukrainian people?

[Xolodno]

24. I think its...

..damned if you do or damned if you don't.

The EU, as whole, hasn't shown too much enthusiasm of including Ukraine into the club. They still have a sour taste in their mouth from Greece and they still have to fix problems within the EU still. Plus the EU really doesn't want to antagonize the big bear anymore. Then there is still no guarantee of admission to the EU. And when you add that Ukraine hasn't fixed its own internal issues yet and is unlikely to do so for quite some time...

Any deal they get from the EU is going to be painful economically and discouraging. And if it fails, they will have to go back to the table with Russia at even less of a good negotiation stance.

Russia on the other hand has volunteered to take the risk of helping Ukraine and its economy is a better fit to trade with Russia due to old cold war policies...of course the cost is you become Putin's Bitch. And if you want closer ties to the EU, you pretty much knock this out of the agenda for a generation.

Add to it, Russia has called for a free trade zone between EU and the Eurasian Economic Union. If this came to fruition, Ukraine could overhaul its economy for better trade options with the EU while not sacrificing its options with Russia. But that will take a long time and is no guarantee it will happen.