13:14
23.2.2014
Governor of Russia's Astrakhan Oblast ready to take in Berkut members?
Астраханский губернатор готов приютить преступников из "Беркута" #євромайдан #Евромайдан
— Євромайдан (@Dbnmjr) February 23, 2014
13:02
23.2.2014
Our Ukrainian Service is reporting:
Ukraine's parliament has revoked a controversial law which expanded the use of the Russian language and languages of other national minorities. The law "On the principles of the state language policies" was pushed through parliament in 2012 by President Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions. It stipulated that while Ukrainian was the only state language, Russian was the official regional language in predominanly Russian-speaking areas in the east and south such as the Crimea. The legislation triggered protests in the capital Kyiv and other cities and brawls in parliament where the opposition described it as "anti-Ukrainian." It was signed into law by Yanukovych, whose mother tongue is Russian, rather than Ukrainian. Parliament revoked the legislation in a vote on Sunday, one day after it voted to remove Yanukovych from office.
12:52
23.2.2014
One of many pavement memorials to the dead. Not the biggest but the one I found most moving. It says: "Thank you" pic.twitter.com/0r1KgzPvTc
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 23, 2014
12:45
23.2.2014
From Interfax:
Ukrainian parliament revokes controversial language law
Kyiv, 23 February: The Supreme Council [parliament] has ruled as void the law on the principles of state language policy of 3 July 2012.
The bill to this effect was backed by 232 out of 334 MPs registered in the session hall.
The law on the principles of the state language policy was submitted by the Party of Regions and passed on 3 July 2012. On 8 August [2012], President Viktor Yanukovych signed the law and instructed the cabinet to set up a working group to develop ways to improve legislation on the use of languages in Ukraine.
The law came into force on 10 August. It envisaged official use of two languages in regions with over 10 per cent of ethnic minorities.
12:27
23.2.2014
Yanukovych's Party of Regions issued a statement today saying the "entire responsibility" for the recent bloodshed in Ukraine rests "with Yanukovych and his nearest associates."
12:03
23.2.2014
Another shocking video: Snipers shooting unarmed protesters, dragged away screaming in pain http://t.co/8SRjlSWjlR #Ukraine #Euromaidan
— Ukrainian Updates (@Ukroblogger) February 23, 2014
11:26
23.2.2014
Ukrainian opposition leader Vitali Klitschko held a news conference in Kyiv today. Some highlights of what he said.
"We are glad that many months of confrontation between authorities and the people -- authorities who did everything possible to ignore people and to hold on to power by crossing the line and killing dozens or maybe hundreds of people -- has come to a full stop today."
"I am sure we will be investigating this and in the coming days we will be able to produce a list of people and of their wrongdoings and our most important task for today is to punish those responsible"
"I think the people have to stay on the streets and in control of the whole process that happens in Ukraine. Human power is very important. Every politician has to know -- any new [government] has to know and remember -- if they start to play the dirty game, this can happen again. The main power -- the will of the people -- is very important. Ukraine has shown to the whole world that it works -- we can [bring about] change."
"We are glad that many months of confrontation between authorities and the people -- authorities who did everything possible to ignore people and to hold on to power by crossing the line and killing dozens or maybe hundreds of people -- has come to a full stop today."
"I am sure we will be investigating this and in the coming days we will be able to produce a list of people and of their wrongdoings and our most important task for today is to punish those responsible"
"I think the people have to stay on the streets and in control of the whole process that happens in Ukraine. Human power is very important. Every politician has to know -- any new [government] has to know and remember -- if they start to play the dirty game, this can happen again. The main power -- the will of the people -- is very important. Ukraine has shown to the whole world that it works -- we can [bring about] change."
11:10
23.2.2014
More from the agencies on the vote in parliament to hand over the duties of the president to the parliament speaker Oleksandr Turchinov and the whereabouts of Yanukovych.
The decision Sunday came one day after parliament voted to remove President Viktor Yanukovych following three months of antigovernment protests.
Lawmakers also voted to dismiss Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, a Yanukovych ally.
Turchinov told deputies to agree on the formation of a national unity government by Tuesday.
Parliament also voted Sunday to hand Yanukovych's residence to the state.
Meanwhile, the precise whereabouts of Yanukovych remain unclear. Arsen Avakov, who was named acting interior minister by parliament on Saturday, confirmed that border guards had prevented Yanukovych from boarding a chartered plane out of the eastern city of Donetsk.
Parliament was told an order has been given to arrest former Tax and Revenue Minister Oleksandr Klimenko and former Prosecutor-General Viktor Pshonka.
Lawmakers also voted to dismiss Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, a Yanukovych ally.
Turchinov told deputies to agree on the formation of a national unity government by Tuesday.
Parliament also voted Sunday to hand Yanukovych's residence to the state.
Meanwhile, the precise whereabouts of Yanukovych remain unclear. Arsen Avakov, who was named acting interior minister by parliament on Saturday, confirmed that border guards had prevented Yanukovych from boarding a chartered plane out of the eastern city of Donetsk.
Parliament was told an order has been given to arrest former Tax and Revenue Minister Oleksandr Klimenko and former Prosecutor-General Viktor Pshonka.
11:05
23.2.2014
From the wires:
Ukraine's parliament has voted to dismiss Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara.
Ukraine's parliament has voted to dismiss Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara.
10:51
23.2.2014
Our Ukrainian Service has a handy map on the Lenin statues that have been toppled around the country.