KIEV: The Ukrainian parliament has adopted a much-anticipated amnesty bill for all those arrested during the anti-government protests, in return the protesters are obliged to free administrative buildings all over the country and unblock roads in the next 15 days.
However, the opposition rejected the bill and demanded an unconditional amnesty and pledged to continue their protest.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov and his cabinet submitted their resignations, while the country’s parliament canceled some controversial anti-protest laws as a part of efforts to peacefully resolve the two-month crisis in the eastern European country.
The country’s President Viktor Yanukovych accepted the prime minister’s resignation, but ordered all cabinet members to stay on till the new cabinet is formed.
Ukraine has been rocked by anti-government protests after Yanukovych refrained from signing an Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) at the third Eastern Partnership Summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on November 29 last year in favor of closer ties with Russia.
Kiev refused to sign the agreement after the EU leaders called on Ukraine to allow jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko to travel overseas for medical treatment.
Later, Ukraine and Russia reached a strategic economic and trade deal in December, which provides Ukraine with significant discounts on imported Russian gas and billions of dollars in credit.
