Zee Media Bureau/Supriya Jha
Kiev: A day after it repealed an anti-protest law in order to placate the protesters, the Ukrainian Parliament on Wednesday began debating whether amnesty should be granted to the detained protesters.
President Viktor Yanukovych had on Monday met three opposition leaders on Monday and agreed to grant amnesty only after the protesters on the streets stopped demonstrating and vacated buildings that they have occupied.
However, the opposition has demanded unconditional amnesty for the protesters besides wanting fresh eolections.
Yesterday, the Parliament agreed to scarp a contentious anti-protest legislation that had angered the demonstrators already miffed with the government for not signing a deal with the EU.
But yesterday`s vote was agreed as the President had already decided to scrap the law that sparked furious clashes between the opposition supporters and Ukrainian police
The anti-protest law banned setting up of tents in public areas and wearing masks or helmets during protests.
In another conciliatory move yesterday, Ukrainian PM Mykola Azarov too, offered to quit to make “social and political compromise”.
However, despite appeasing steps taken by the Ukraine government, the two demands of the opposition remain unfulfilled yet and it may take more time to see the calm return to the streets of Kiev.
Meanwhile, EU`s Catherine Ashton has left for Kiev today to talk with the President.
The protests that were sparked in Nov last year, had turned violent in recent days, with the death toll reaching five.
Also, reports said that few policemen had been stabbed, one of whom died.
The opposition has also been demanding Yanukovych`s resignation and fresh elections to be held.
The protests were triggered last year in Nov after the President postponed a treaty with the EU, and instead accepted a $15bn bailout package from Russia.
