Kyiv, 3 February 2014
Opposition called for restoration of Constitution adopted in 2004. Arseniy Yatsenyuk, head of Batkivshchyna faction, called on the Parliament to pass a constitutional act restoring the Constitution of 2004. He also noted that opposition is ready to return Ukraine to parliamentary-presidential republic.
Tyahnybok called for immediate return to Constitution of 2004. Oleh Tyahnybok, head of “Svoboda” faction, called for immediate return to the Constitution adopted in 2004. The Parliament cannot work as usual pretending that nothing serious is taken place. Authorities supported by Kremlin intend to involve Ukraine into a civil war the opposition leader stressed, pointing to Ukrainian front recently established in Kharkiv. “Svoboda” has a number of reservations to the Constitution of 2004, Tyahnybok stressed, adding that the move aimed at finding a way out of the crisis.
Baloha expect Parliament to renew Constitution of 2004. Victor Baloha, a non-attached MP, expressed his hope that the Parliament would renew the Constitution of 2004 already on 4 February. According to the MP, there is a majority of MPs ready to back the constitutional act. From the other side, however, there are also forces interested in further destabilization of the situation, the MP noted, pointing to Victor Medvedchuk and Ukrainian front recently established in Kharkiv.
Lytvyn: some MPs may lose their parliamentary seats. Volodymyr Lytvyn, a non-attached MP and former head of the Parliament does not rule out that several MPs may lose their parliamentary seats. He also called to protect deputies, adding that the Parliament should maintain its work.
Ashton: EU and US jointly work on aid package for Ukraine. In her interview to The Wall Street Journal, Catherine Ashton, EU HR/VP, noted that the EU together with the US work on aid package for Ukraine aimed at helping the country to overcome the ongoing crisis. The EU chief diplomat also underlined that the numbers of the aid “won’t be small”, adding that it won’t hinge on Kyiv first agreeing upon a long-term IMF deal. The paper continues by quoting unnamed US diplomats saying that the aid is contingent to peaceful resolution of the crisis and to power-sharing deal between the President and opposition.
Füle called for EU membership perspective to Ukraine. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Štefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and ENP, called on European politicians for more decisive actions towards Ukraine. “If we are serious about helping this part of Europe to transform, the association agreement is only first step,” the Commissioner stressed, adding that the next one should be the light at the end of the tunnel. “You can’t transform this part of Europe without using this most powerful instrument [enlargement],” Füle added.
Komorowski called not to be scared of Ukrainian nationalists. Bronisław Komorowski, Poland’s President, called not to be scared of Ukrainian nationalists including “Svoboda” political party as they do not conduct xenophobic and anti-Polish policy. Their activities and mottos should be carefully followed, the President noted, adding that neither Ukrainian far right nor far left forces are too danger for the country.
Three amnesty bills are registered in the Parliament. Three bills on amnesty for Euromaidan activists are registered in the Parliament. One of them tabled by Svoboda MP Ihor Shvaika proposed to amend the already adopted amnesty law by lifting any conditions for the activists’ release. Another two documents developed by UDAR and non-attached MPs foresee adoption of a new amnesty law.
Lviv entrepreneurs refused from paying taxes until a government of national trust is formed. Lviv entrepreneurs united by the Committee of Lviv-based companies refused from paying some taxes until a new government of national trust is formed. Roman Zafijovskyi, head of the Committee, specified that the entrepreneurs would not pay taxes used for financing Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies including ‘Berkut’, Ukrainian riot police.
Automaidan expressed support to Klitchko and called on PoR MPs to prevent bloodshed. Activists of Automaidan movement expressed their support to Vitaliy Klitschko as the leader of the uprising, adding that their support would be revoked if the politician starts to pursue his personal interest. Automaidan, moreover, addressed MPs representing the Party of the Regions calling them to change the current dramatical situation in the country and to prevent possible bloodshed orchestrated by Putin, Medvedchuk and Klyuyev as well as Yanukovych’s will to retain power.
“Praviy Sector” thinks about becoming a political party. “Praviy Sector” plans to register itself as a political party and run at the next parliamentary elections. “Praviy Sector” is considered to be a far-right radical arm of the protests that took responsibility for clashes with police on Hryshevskiy street.
Prosecutor General’s Office has not found anybody guilty of beaten journalists. Iryna Herashchenko, an opposition MP, published a respond of the Prosecutor General’s Office to her request, saying that the law enforcement agency did not find anybody guilty of beaten journalist on 30 November, 1 December. There are 26 journalists found to be victims with nobody accused of beaten them. The General Prosecutor’s Office, moreover, remains silent on injured journalists shot allegedly by Berkut riot police in Hryshevskiy street, the MP added.
10 tons of Polish aid to Euromaidan crossed Ukrainian border. 10 tons of Polish aid to Euromaidan collected in several Polish cities crossed Ukrainian border, media reported, adding that this is the first large scale aid allowed to enter Ukraine by the State’s border guard service.
By Internews