Simferopol, 9 April 1997 (RFE/RL) -- Parliament in the autonomous Ukrainian republic of Crimea today voted out the region's Prime Minister, Arkady Demidenko.
Interfax reports that 65 deputies out of a total 77 deputies present voted to remove Demidenko. Legislators voted to install former government head Anatoly Franchuk as caretaker Prime Minister.
Parliament speaker Anatoly Gritsenko said the change had been agreed ahead of time with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma. Previous attempts to remove Demidenko were later declared invalid by Kuchma. According to the constitution, the Ukrainian head of State must approve cabinet changes in Crimea.
Interfax reports that 65 deputies out of a total 77 deputies present voted to remove Demidenko. Legislators voted to install former government head Anatoly Franchuk as caretaker Prime Minister.
Parliament speaker Anatoly Gritsenko said the change had been agreed ahead of time with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma. Previous attempts to remove Demidenko were later declared invalid by Kuchma. According to the constitution, the Ukrainian head of State must approve cabinet changes in Crimea.