L
LequteMan
Guest
Europe- The regime of Viktor Yanukovych appears to have fallen as Ukraine’s parliament voted to remove the defiant president from power, after he fled Kiev, leaving a power vacuum.
This follows protests from Ukrainians dating back to late last year, who want the president removed from office.
The protesters had been fighting against President Viktor Yanukovych's ongoing refusal to sign a political and economic association pact with the EU after pressure from Russia.
The Ukrainian government had been working for years on a landmark trade deal with the European Union. In a sudden change of heart, Yanukovych backed out last November.
Over the past three days, tensions again intensified as Kiev turned into a war zone, with up to 77 shot dead when police took to the crowd with live ammunition.
Nevertheless, Yanukoych, determined to keep his grip, vowed that he would not resign.
However, parliament MPs, according to news.com.au then passed a resolution saying Yanukovych had failed in his duties as president, and announced he was “removing himself from power” — a move Yanukoych said was “illegitimate”.
Meanwhile, former PM Yulia Tymoshenko, Yanukovych’s main political rival, was released from prison, telling supporters “the dictatorship has fallen”.
Ms Ymoshenko said she would run for president in the next presidential election.
This recent turn of events certainly leaves Yanukoych a slim chance of being voted into power come May 25.
This follows protests from Ukrainians dating back to late last year, who want the president removed from office.
The protesters had been fighting against President Viktor Yanukovych's ongoing refusal to sign a political and economic association pact with the EU after pressure from Russia.
The Ukrainian government had been working for years on a landmark trade deal with the European Union. In a sudden change of heart, Yanukovych backed out last November.
Over the past three days, tensions again intensified as Kiev turned into a war zone, with up to 77 shot dead when police took to the crowd with live ammunition.
Nevertheless, Yanukoych, determined to keep his grip, vowed that he would not resign.
However, parliament MPs, according to news.com.au then passed a resolution saying Yanukovych had failed in his duties as president, and announced he was “removing himself from power” — a move Yanukoych said was “illegitimate”.
Meanwhile, former PM Yulia Tymoshenko, Yanukovych’s main political rival, was released from prison, telling supporters “the dictatorship has fallen”.
Ms Ymoshenko said she would run for president in the next presidential election.
This recent turn of events certainly leaves Yanukoych a slim chance of being voted into power come May 25.
