'Coup d'etat'
On Thursday, MPs from Mr Yanukovych's Party of the Regions, together with the communists and a number of independents, passed the laws amid scenes of chaos in parliament.Nutrition

Continue reading the main story
"
Start Quote

What we'll have is worse than Belarus”

Iryna Bekeshkina
Director, Democratic Initiatives Foundation
Media: new laws a threat to democracy
The measures were pushed through in a matter of minutes when lawmakers simply raised their hands, despite the protests of opposition deputies who had earlier blocked the speaker's platform to try to disrupt the voting.

One of the laws bans any unauthorised installation of tents, stages or amplifiers in public places. Those who violate the law now face a hefty fine or detention.mothers day flowers deliver

Another bill provides a punishment of one year of corrective labour for slandering government officials.

Protests involving more than five vehicles in "Automaidan" motorcades were also banned. This followed such demonstrations outside government offices - including Mr Yanukovych's countryside residence - in recent days.

Party of the Regions MP Oleh Tsariov said the laws aimed to prevent further escalation of the ongoing political crisis.

But the three main opposition leaders described the move as "illegitimate", saying the pro-presidential MPs had decided to use voting by a show of hands after realising they did not have enough support.

Udar party leader Vitali Klitschko condemned it as a "coup d'etat", while Arseniy Yatsenyuk, one of the leaders of the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party, warned that Ukraine was now bracing for another "wave of protests".

In Washington, the US state department voiced its "deep concern" that the controversial measures had been passed.

"We believe deeply that the people of Ukraine want to affiliate and want to be associated with Europe and they want to turn in that direction," Secretary of State John Kerry said.

"And the steps that were taken yesterday are anti-democratic. They're wrong. They are taking from the people of Ukraine their choice and their opportunity for the future."

The new laws were also criticised by foreign ministers from Sweden and Poland.DIY home

The EU's ambassador to Ukraine, Jan Tombinsky, said "norms should be adopted through proper procedures, otherwise the credibility of democratic institutions and of the legal system is at stake".

Posted by: washall at 02:42 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 376 words, total size 3 kb.