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| Ukrainian Premier Resigns as Parliament Repeals Restrictive Laws | Ukrainian Premier Resigns as Parliament Repeals Restrictive Laws |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| KIEV, Ukraine — Mykola Azarov, the prime minister of Ukraine, resigned on Tuesday, hours before a planned vote of no confidence by Parliament that could have stripped him of his powers. | KIEV, Ukraine — Mykola Azarov, the prime minister of Ukraine, resigned on Tuesday, hours before a planned vote of no confidence by Parliament that could have stripped him of his powers. |
| The resignation came shortly after the pro-government Party of Regions joined with opposition lawmakers on Tuesday to repeal most of the laws in a package of legislation restricting freedom of speech and assembly that was enacted only last week. | The resignation came shortly after the pro-government Party of Regions joined with opposition lawmakers on Tuesday to repeal most of the laws in a package of legislation restricting freedom of speech and assembly that was enacted only last week. |
| Together, the resignation and repeals were significant concessions by Ukraine’s embattled president, Viktor F. Yanukovych, as well as clear signs of the building momentum of opposition to his rule. | Together, the resignation and repeals were significant concessions by Ukraine’s embattled president, Viktor F. Yanukovych, as well as clear signs of the building momentum of opposition to his rule. |
| In a statement posted on his website, Mr. Yanukovych said he had accepted Mr. Azarov’s resignation and had signed a decree dismissing the rest of the cabinet of ministers as well. But he said Mr. Azarov and the ministers would stay on until a new cabinet is approved by Parliament. | In a statement posted on his website, Mr. Yanukovych said he had accepted Mr. Azarov’s resignation and had signed a decree dismissing the rest of the cabinet of ministers as well. But he said Mr. Azarov and the ministers would stay on until a new cabinet is approved by Parliament. |
| “All of the current members of the cabinet of ministers of Ukraine continue to work in their posts and exercise the powers entrusted to them,” he said. | “All of the current members of the cabinet of ministers of Ukraine continue to work in their posts and exercise the powers entrusted to them,” he said. |
| Mr. Yanukovych has promised other concessions as well, including an amnesty for arrested protesters and a revision of the Constitution to weaken presidential powers. Lawmakers were expected to take up those matters later on Tuesday. | Mr. Yanukovych has promised other concessions as well, including an amnesty for arrested protesters and a revision of the Constitution to weaken presidential powers. Lawmakers were expected to take up those matters later on Tuesday. |
| Mr. Azarov had been a staunch ally of Mr. Yanukovych through the two months of protests roiling Ukraine. But neither his resignation nor the repeal of the restrictive legislation, which the opposition calls the “dictatorship laws,” were seen as likely to appease the protesters. | Mr. Azarov had been a staunch ally of Mr. Yanukovych through the two months of protests roiling Ukraine. But neither his resignation nor the repeal of the restrictive legislation, which the opposition calls the “dictatorship laws,” were seen as likely to appease the protesters. |
| In Independence Square, the central plaza that has been occupied since November by demonstrators, with tents, field kitchens and a stage, reactions to Tuesday’s developments were mixed. | In Independence Square, the central plaza that has been occupied since November by demonstrators, with tents, field kitchens and a stage, reactions to Tuesday’s developments were mixed. |
| One elderly woman in a kerchief giddily told the Ukrainian Channel 5 television network after Mr. Azarov’s resignation, “Thank God you heard us!” | One elderly woman in a kerchief giddily told the Ukrainian Channel 5 television network after Mr. Azarov’s resignation, “Thank God you heard us!” |
| But a young man wearing a metal helmet told the television station, “It’s not a victory yet.” | But a young man wearing a metal helmet told the television station, “It’s not a victory yet.” |
| In a letter posted on the government website, Mr. Azarov wrote that he was resigning “for the sake of a peaceful resolution” to the civil unrest, which escalated sharply last week with the deaths of five protesters. Demonstrators occupied provincial administration buildings in at least 10 regions, sending the police fleeing through rear exits in some instances. One policeman was shot to death on a street in Kiev, far from the protest site; a nationalist group calling itself the Ukrainian Partisan Army claimed responsibility in a Facebook post. | |
| Mr. Azarov wrote in his letter: “The state of conflict in the nation threatens the social and economic development of Ukraine, and presents a threat to all Ukrainian society, and all its citizens. In order to create additional opportunities for social and political compromise for the sake of peaceful resolution of the conflict, I made a personal decision to ask the president of Ukraine to accept my resignation.” | Mr. Azarov wrote in his letter: “The state of conflict in the nation threatens the social and economic development of Ukraine, and presents a threat to all Ukrainian society, and all its citizens. In order to create additional opportunities for social and political compromise for the sake of peaceful resolution of the conflict, I made a personal decision to ask the president of Ukraine to accept my resignation.” |
| Mr. Yanukovych had previously signaled that he would be willing to dismiss Mr. Azarov. Over the weekend, the president offered the prime ministership to the Parliamentary leader of the opposition Fatherland party, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, who declined the offer. | Mr. Yanukovych had previously signaled that he would be willing to dismiss Mr. Azarov. Over the weekend, the president offered the prime ministership to the Parliamentary leader of the opposition Fatherland party, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, who declined the offer. |
| In the ranks of the radical opposition, empowered now by its survival as an organized movement after a week of fierce street fighting with the police and security services in which scores of people were wounded and arrested, few believed that Mr. Azarov’s resignation was voluntary. | In the ranks of the radical opposition, empowered now by its survival as an organized movement after a week of fierce street fighting with the police and security services in which scores of people were wounded and arrested, few believed that Mr. Azarov’s resignation was voluntary. |
| Oleg Tyagnibok, the leader of the nationalist Svoboda party, said Mr. Azarov had been forced out in a maneuver to avoid the no-confidence vote in Parliament. “It’s clear they are looking for ways to avoid responsibility,” he said. | Oleg Tyagnibok, the leader of the nationalist Svoboda party, said Mr. Azarov had been forced out in a maneuver to avoid the no-confidence vote in Parliament. “It’s clear they are looking for ways to avoid responsibility,” he said. |
| In the morning session of Parliament, which began with a moment of silence for those who died last week, lawmakers repealed nine of the 12 restrictive laws that had been passed on Jan. 16 by a show of hands, without debate. Outrage at the limits the laws imposed on free speech and assembly in the country sparked the violence on Jan. 19. | In the morning session of Parliament, which began with a moment of silence for those who died last week, lawmakers repealed nine of the 12 restrictive laws that had been passed on Jan. 16 by a show of hands, without debate. Outrage at the limits the laws imposed on free speech and assembly in the country sparked the violence on Jan. 19. |
| The repeal vote on Tuesday was conducted more formally, with 361 votes recorded in favor of repeal in the 450-seat chamber, including the Party of Regions, Mr. Yanukovych’s party. | The repeal vote on Tuesday was conducted more formally, with 361 votes recorded in favor of repeal in the 450-seat chamber, including the Party of Regions, Mr. Yanukovych’s party. |
| The laws had specifically banned tactics adopted by the opposition in the protests. For example, a provision banning the driving of cars in a column of more than five was aimed at a group called AutoMaidan that had taken to protesting by driving through the capital in large, honking caravans. | The laws had specifically banned tactics adopted by the opposition in the protests. For example, a provision banning the driving of cars in a column of more than five was aimed at a group called AutoMaidan that had taken to protesting by driving through the capital in large, honking caravans. |
| In a compromise, members of Parliament, including those from opposition parties, also voted to approve more limited versions of some of the repealed restrictions. For example, a provision to make destroying monuments a criminal offense was reinstated, but with the specification that it covers only monuments to fighters against fascism, like the World War II statues that are ubiquitous in Ukraine. It no longer applies to statues of Lenin, like the one toppled by protesters in Kiev in December; the Svoboda party has called for dismantling all of Ukraine’s Lenins. | In a compromise, members of Parliament, including those from opposition parties, also voted to approve more limited versions of some of the repealed restrictions. For example, a provision to make destroying monuments a criminal offense was reinstated, but with the specification that it covers only monuments to fighters against fascism, like the World War II statues that are ubiquitous in Ukraine. It no longer applies to statues of Lenin, like the one toppled by protesters in Kiev in December; the Svoboda party has called for dismantling all of Ukraine’s Lenins. |