Speaking from a location in his political stronghold in the east of the country, however, Viktor Yanukovych defied attempts to unseat him, describing them as a coup.
In the same session of parliament, deputies voted to hold early presidential elections on May 25.
After overwhelmingly voting to force Yanukovych’s removal as president, deputies in the Verkhovna Rada broke into a rendition of the national anthem.
The impeachment vote marks a dramatic development for a leader’s whose rule had seemed in little doubt in late November, when a wave of protests was ignited by the government surprise decision to back away from closer ties with the EU in favor of greater economic cooperation with Russia.
But Yanukovych insisted in a televised statement before the vote Saturday that he would neither resign nor sign any agreement with what he called “bandits terrorizing the country.”
The remarks were a defiant rejection of calls by the opposition for the president to step aside and potentially set the stage for destabilizing political confrontation in the days ahead.
“I’m doing everything to prevent bloodshed in the country,” Yanukovych said in a televised interview. “They are trying to intimidate me and induce me to resign voluntarily. But I do not intend to resign.”
In the statement broadcast on Ukrainian television, Yanukovych said the ongoing turmoil in Ukraine had all the hallmarks of a coup attempt and likened opposition forces’ activities to those of the Nazis in the 1930s.
Lawmakers from Yanukovych’s fast-disintegrating Party of Regions earlier in the day gathered in the eastern city of Kharkiv to declaim the opposition and resolved that rule in the regions should be taken over by local government, a clear gesture of planned defiance to the order taking shape in Kiev.
Combative remarks by speakers at that congress have aroused alarms of further violence and a possible surge in separatist sentiments in a region that has bristled at a perceived increase in Ukrainian nationalism.
Also Saturday, parliament voted to release former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko from jail in a session that also saw the appointment of a new Interior Minister and the dismissal of the country’s top prosecutor.
Deputies voted to appoint a member of Tymoshenko’s Batkivshchyna party, Arsen Avakov, as Interior Minister.
Avakov will be replacing outgoing Interior Minister, Vitaly Zakharchenko, who the opposition charge with being responsible for the crackdown on government opponents that culminated in violence this week in which at least 80 people were killed.
Another Tymoshenko ally, Alexander Turchinov, was approved as speaker of the parliament, replacing a close Yanukovych associate.
A day earlier, parliament voted to approve a key opposition demand by restoring the 2004 constitution, designed to limit presidential powers and make Ukraine a parliamentary republic. The deal overseen by EU envoys and Kremlin-appointed mediator stated that an interim government should be formed in the coming days..........................http://en.ria.ru/world/20140222/187789200/Parliament-in-Ukraine-Impeaches-President-Calls-May-25-Vote.html
22/2/14
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- Ukrainian President Insists He Won't Resign, Slams Opposition
KIEV, February 22 (RIA Novosti) – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych insisted Saturday that he would neither resign nor sign any agreement with what he called “bandits terrorizing the country.”
The remarks, apparently made from a location in Yanukovych’s stronghold of eastern Ukraine, are a defiant rejection of calls by the opposition for the president to step aside and potentially set the stage for destabilizing political confrontation in the days ahead.
“I’m doing everything to prevent bloodshed in the country,” Yanukovych said in a televised interview. “They are trying to intimidate me and induce me to resign voluntarily. But I do not intend to resign.”
In the statement broadcast on Ukrainian television, Yanukovych said the ongoing turmoil in Ukraine had all the hallmarks of a coup attempt and likened opposition forces’ activities to those of the Nazis in the 1930s.
http://en.ria.ru/world/20140222/187788296/Ukrainian-President-Insists-He-Wont-Resign-Slams-Opposition.html
22/2/14
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Ukrainisches Parlament erklärt Janukowitsch für abgesetzt....
ReplyDeletePolitische Wende in der Ukraine! Der amtierende Präsident Janukowitsch wurde für abgesetzt erklärt!
Kiew - Das ukrainische Parlament hat Präsident Viktor Janukowitsch für abgesetzt erklärt und Neuwahlen für den 25. Mai angeordnet. Der Staatschef übe sein Amt nicht aus und habe sich widerrechtlich Vollmachten angeeignet, erklärten die Abgeordneten........http://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/inhalt.ukraine-ukrainisches-parlament-erklaert-janukowitsch-fuer-abgesetzt.e7930987-e4d5-4556-8e4e-1b0270680374.html
22/2/14
Lavrov voices serious concern over inability to comply with February 21 agreement....
ReplyDeleteRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has voiced serious concern over the inability to comply with an agreement, which was signed on February 21.
"The opposition has not fulfilled any obligations and it has made new demands following the actions taken by armed extremists and rioters, who posed a direct threat to sovereignty and the constitutional system of Ukraine,” Lavrov said in telephone conversations with the foreign ministers of Germany, Poland and France on Saturday.
The Russian minister urged Germany, Poland and France, which had promoted and witnessed the signing of the February 21 agreement, to use their influence upon the opposition in order to make it to immediately curb violence.
“It is time to stop misinform the world community and look today’s Maidan meets the interests of the Ukrainian people,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement..............http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/720486
22/2/14
15:39 GMT:
ReplyDeleteThe Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) has voted for the resignation of the Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovich, citing “not fulfilling duties.” The Rada also voted for a resolution according to which early presidential elections will be held May 25.
Aleksandr Turchinov the new head speaker of the parliament read the text of the resolution, which says that “as Viktor Yanukovich has abandoned his presidential post (he secretly moved to his residence in Kharkov), the parliament had no choice but to announce early presidential elections.”
15:26 GMT:
Russia says that France, Germany and Poland, the main EU representatives throughout the Ukrainian crisis, “share its concerns” about the opposition not fulfilling the terms of the agreement signed between its leaders and Yanukovich on Friday, says a statement from the Russian foreign ministry, following Sergey Lavrov’s phone conversation with his European counterparts.
“The opposition is not only failing to comply with its obligations, but keeps making new demands, at the behest of radicals and looters who pose a threat to the constitutional order and sovereignty of Ukraine,” said a statement on the ministry’s website.
Friday’s EU-mediated deal promised a transitional government, early elections and constitutional reform, which were the primary demands of the opposition at the start of the stand-off.
14:47 GMT:
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has shared his concerns with Germany, France and Poland over Ukrainian opposition’s inability to fulfill the agreement, which was signed in Kiev on Friday.
14:45 GMT:
Yanukovich has called upon the international community to stop the radicals from taking power.
“We are facing the threat of a return of Nazism,” the president told UBR channel.
Yanukovich said that he would do everything to stop further bloodshed, and mentioned that 200 regional offices of his Party of Regions have been torched.
14:40 GMT:
President Yanukovich has claimed his car was fired at on Friday.
“In Kiev my car was fired at. But I have no fear,” he told the UBR TV channel. The President added that his car was targeted as he was on his way to the airport to fly to Kharkov..................http://rt.com/news/kiev-clashes-rioters-police-571/
22/2/14
МИД Польши опроверг информацию о приезде главы ведомства в Киев....
ReplyDeleteВАРШАВА, 22 февраля. /Корр. ИТАР-ТАСС Ирина Полина/. МИД Польши опровергает информацию о приезде главы ведомства Радослава Сикорского в Киев. Об этом заявил пресс-секретарь министерства Марчин Войцеховский.
"Передаваемые СМИ сообщения о том, что министр Сикорский находится в Киеве или на Украине, не соответствуют действительности. Решительно опровергаю", - сказал он.
Ранее сегодня украинские СМИ передали, что главы МИД Польши, Германии и Франции прибыли в Верховную Раду в Киеве.
http://itar-tass.com/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/994917
22/2/14
Freed Tymoshenko honours Ukraine’s ‘heroes’ on Independence Square...
ReplyDeleteUkraine's freed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko honoured the victims of Kiev’s Independence Square on Saturday, calling protesters “heroes”. Meanwhile, President Viktor Yanukovich was rumoured to be trying to flee the country.
* Ukraine’s parliament declared President Viktor Yanukovich constitutionally unable to carry out his duties and set an early election for May 25.
* Opposition leader and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko was freed from the hospital where she had been under prison guard. Tymoshenko was jailed for seven years on abuse-of-power charges in 2011.
* Yanukovich has denounced Saturday’s dramatic events in Kiev, calling it a “coup d’etat” and refused to accept parliament’s authority...........http://www.france24.com/en/20140222-live-ukraine-yanukovich-opposition-resignation-parliament/
22/2/14
"Ihr habt ein neues Land verdient" ....Timoschenko hält emotionale Rede auf dem Maidan....
ReplyDeleteKaum in Freiheit, feiert das Volk in Kiew die Ex-Regierungschefin Timoschenko wie eine Heldin. Mit tränenerstickter Stimme wendet sich die in Haft erkrankte Politikerin an Zehntausende.
Mit einer hochemotionalen Rede in Kiew hat sich die ukrainische Oppositionsführerin Julia Timoschenko nach mehr als zweieinhalb Jahren Haft in der Freiheit zurückgemeldet. Vor mehr als 100 000 Menschen auf dem Unabhängigkeitsplatz (Maidan) rief die Ex-Regierungschefin zum weiteren Kampf gegen Präsident Viktor Janukowitsch auf. "Kämpft bis zum Ende!", rief sie. "Wir müssen Janukowitsch und den Abschaum um ihn herum auf den Maidan bringen", forderte sie mit sich überschlagender Stimme. Die gewaltige Menge im Zentrum der Hauptstadt empfing die 53-Jährige mit riesigem Beifall................http://www.n24.de/n24/Nachrichten/Politik/d/4328066/timoschenko-haelt-emotionale-rede-auf-dem-maidan.html
22/2/14
Anonymous Ukraine releases Klitschko e-mails showing treason...
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Ukraine is battling the forces in Ukraine that are funded and directed from the West and attempting to overthrow the democratically elected government of the sovereign country of Ukraine. Anonymous Ukraine is operating in what can only now be described as a war zone and the security measures they are forced to take are extreme. A member of Anonymous Ukraine who wishes to remain anonymous spoke to the Voice of Russia about the operations and the recent release of e-mails between Vitaly Klischko and the Lithuanian Presidential advisor. The e-mails show that Klitschko was intentionally planning to destabilize the country, is being instructed and funded from abroad and has his accounts in Germany. This is clear evidence of treason. The member of Anonymous does not speak for the entire Anonymous movement but comments as a member of Anonymous Ukraine. As Anonymous has no leaders and the situation is fluid operations may change at any point when consensus is reached..............http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_02_23/Anonymous-Ukraine-releases-Klitschko-e-mails-showing-treason-3581/
22/2/14
Berlin und London sichern neuer Regierung in Kiew Unterstützung zu...
ReplyDeleteGroßbritannien und Deutschland wollen die neue Regierung in der Ukraine unter anderem auch finanziell unterstützen, teilte der britische Außenminister William Hague am Samstag mit.
„William Hague hat am Samstag mit dem deutschen Außenminister Steinmeier vereinbart, die neue Regierung der Ukraine zu unterstützen und hinsichtlich des notwendigen Finanzpakets des Internationalen Währungsfonds Hilfe zu erweisen“, twitterte der britische Außenamtschef.................http://de.ria.ru/politics/20140222/267892196.html
22/2/14
Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko called on protesters not to abandon Independence Square, even though the deal with opposition leaders has already been signed....
ReplyDelete"You have no right to leave Maidan...Don't stop yet,” she told rioters in an emotional speech.........http://rt.com/news/kiev-clashes-rioters-police-571/
22/2/14
Ukrainian border guards refuse Yanukovich's plane exit country...
ReplyDeleteUkrainian border guards refused to allow a charter aircraft with President Viktor Yanukovich to take off from the Donetsk airport in the country’s east, local UNN news agency reported.
The agency cited Segei Astakhov, a deputy head of the State Border Service, as saying that the charter flight had no proper documents and permission from the border guards to take off.
He said that during an inspection of the aircraft, armed men from the plane attempted to bribe the border guard staff in exchange for immediate clearance permit for the flight, but the border guards refused
“Two armored vehicles arrived shortly after that,” Astakhov said adding that the president ascended the plane, sat in one of the cars and left the territory of the airport.
It was not reported where the aircraft with the president was bound for.
Voice of Russia, TASS
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_02_23/Ukrainian-border-guards-refuse-Yanukovichs-plane-exit-country-2027/
23/2/14