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Ukraine’s Anti-Protest Laws Scrapped, PM Resigning

In an attempt to end the protests that have consumed Ukraine for months, the parliament has repealed its harsh anti-protest laws.

Ukraine’s Anti-Protest Laws Scrapped, PM Resigning
Wikimedia / Evgeny Feldman

In an attempt to end the protests that have consumed Ukraine for months, the parliament has repealed its harsh anti-protest laws.

The laws — which banned unsanctioned gatherings — were imposed earlier this month, and seemed only to make the political crisis in Ukraine worse. (Via ITN

They were seen as draconian and repressive by the opposition, and led to intensified clashes between police and anti-government protesters. (Via Channel 4

Also Tuesday — Ukraine’s Prime Minister Mykola Azarov handed in his resignation in an effort he said to peacefully resolve the conflict. (Via Wikimedia Commons / Premier.go.ru)

Under the constitution, the resignation of the prime minister would also mean the dismissal of the entire cabinet. (Via  Euronews

Azarov’s resignation isn’t all that surprising, considering President Viktor Yanukovych recently offered the job of prime minister to a top opposition leader — an offer the opposition rejected. An analyst for Bloomberg explains why they felt it was necessary to turn down what they saw as a pretty meaningless gesture.

“Well first off that would kind of taint them because President Yanukovych and his government are the problem. Secondly, the prime minister is mostly a technocrat in this country.”

And while Azarov’s move may help ease tensions in Ukraine, it's not still not everything the opposition has asked for.

They want a resignation letter from President Yanukovych, as well. (Via Estonian Foreign Ministry)

​After all, it was his decision to shun a long-anticipated economic treaty with the European Union that started the protests in the first place. (Via YouTube / yanukovychvf)

The opposition is calling for fresh presidential elections, though so far, Yanukovych hasn't indicated he has any plans of stepping down. (Via RT

In order for Azarov’s resignation for it to be official, Yanukovych must still accept it, though many observers say at this point that’s mostly a formality.