NEWSBRIEFS (04/15/01)

NEWSBRIEFS

Rally in Kyiv demands Kuchma's ouster...

KYIV - A rally in Kyiv on April 10 demanded the dismissal of President Leonid Kuchma and a "power system change" in Ukraine, Interfax reported. According to the opposition, the demonstration was attended by 10,000 people, while police set the number at 2,000. The demonstration, which was organized by the Forum for National Salvation under the slogan "For Ukraine Without Kuchma and Oligarchs," adopted a statement calling "to stop hounding Prime Minister [Viktor] Yuschenko and making attempts to remove him from the post of Cabinet head." The statement also urges an objective investigation into the disappearance of journalist Heorhii Gongadze and the immediate dismissal of Procurator General Mykhailo Potebenko, Tax Administration Chairman Mykola Azarov, and National Security and Defense Council Secretary Yevhen Marchuk. (RFE/RL Newsline)

... while Odesa residents side with Kuchma

ODESA - Some 10,000-15,000 people participated in a rally in Odesa on April 10 to mark the anniversary of the city's liberation from the Nazi occupation, Interfax reported. Demonstrators held placards reading: "Our future is in unity of the president and the people," "Odesa residents are grateful to President Kuchma for his care and assistance" and "Odesa is our city, Kuchma is our president." President Leonid Kuchma spoke at the rally. Later the same day, Mr. Kuchma told journalists that a no-confidence referendum on the president, which has been proposed by the opposition, would not be legally binding. The president also criticized as "pressure" the proposal by the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to exclude Ukraine from the Council of Europe over human rights violations. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yuschenko may face no-confidence vote

KYIV - The Communist Party parliamentary caucus has announced that it has collected the 150 signatures required to apply for placing a no-confidence vote in Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko's Cabinet on the parliamentary agenda, the Internet newsletter Ukrainska Pravda reported on April 10. Interfax reported that signatures to support the same initiative were also collected by four groups from the parliamentary majority: the Social Democratic Party (United), the Democratic Union, Yabluko and Labor Ukraine. At least 226 votes are necessary to introduce an issue on the parliamentary agenda. The above-mentioned five legislative groups control 236 votes in the Verkhovna Rada. Mr. Yuschenko is expected to report to the Parliament on April 17 on his government's performance during the past year. Vice Prime Minister Yurii Yekhanurov commented that a no-confidence vote in the government may be delayed until the end of the current session in order to keep the Yuschenko Cabinet in "a state of suspension." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Tymoshenko ready to run for president

KYIV - Former Vice Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko told the Moscow-based Kommersant-Daily on April 11 that she is ready to seek the post of Ukraine's president. She noted, however, that she is also ready to back another presidential candidate if he turns out to be "a real leader who is ready to give his life for the country." She added that, as of now, she does not see such a leader. She said she would assert Ukraine's position in the world and limit the country's dependence on Russian energy resources if she came to power. "I know that if I sooner or later come to power, I will very quickly build a gas pipeline bypassing Russia," Ms. Tymoshenko pledged. (RFE/RL Newsline)

1,000 students demonstrate in Kyiv

KYIV - Some 1,000 students held a rally on April 9 in front of the presidential administration building in Kyiv, demanding that President Leonid Kuchma swear on the Constitution of Ukraine that he did not give orders to kill journalist Heorhii Gongadze or Rukh leader Vyacheslav Chornovil, as well as other politicians and journalists, Interfax reported. Mr. Kuchma commented later the same day that he has already sworn on the Constitution and is not going to do so again. "That would be a farce, and the president will not participate in a farce," Mr. Kuchma added. (RFE/RL Newsline)

A referendum on Kuchma's ouster?

KYIV - The Forum for National Salvation (FNS), a loose association of anti-presidential groups, decided on April 7 to start preparations for a no-confidence referendum in President Leonid Kuchma, Interfax reported. According to Ukraine's Constitution, a referendum can be held if the opposition collects at least 3 million signatures of support in at least two-thirds of the country's 25 regions. It is not clear, however, if such a plebiscite could force President Kuchma to step down. Former Vice Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko told an FNS meeting on April 7 that a referendum is the only way to depose Mr. Kuchma, adding that Ukrainian legislation does not define the procedure for impeaching the president. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Leaders comment on anti-Kuchma vote

KYIV - National Deputy Taras Chornovil, an activist of the Forum for National Salvation (FNS), said on April 9 that the FNS proposal to initiate a no-confidence referendum on President Leonid Kuchma is premature, Interfax reported. "If we now begin the [referendum] action, which is doomed to fail, we will in this way begin someone's election campaign or give a trump card to the president," Mr. Chornovil noted. Verkhovna Rada First Vice-Chairman Viktor Medvedchuk said the referendum idea is legally invalid, adding that a law on referendums adopted in March bars no-confidence plebiscites. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ukrainian PM in Moscow for talks

KYIV - Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko came to Moscow on April 10 to meet with his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Kasianov, for talks about Russian plans to restrict the import of Ukrainian steel pipes, Interfax reported. Meanwhile, Gazprom head Rem Viakhirev said in St. Petersburg that the Russian-Ukrainian gas agreement did not work well during its first three months of operation, Interfax-ANI reported. "There have not been any successes," Mr. Viakhirev said, "only more debts." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Parliamentary majority non-existent?

KYIV - The Labor Ukraine parliamentary group (46 deputies) said it has halted its participation in the parliamentary majority Coordinating Council, Interfax reported on April 6. Labor Ukraine explained its decision as being the result of last week's refusal by some majority participants - including the Fatherland Party, Rukh and Reforms-Congress groups - to vote in line with the rest of the majority. Citing the same reason, the Social Democratic Party (United) caucus said it will not sign a political accord between the majority and the government. Verkhovna Rada First Vice-Chairman Viktor Medvedchuk said on April 9 that, in his opinion, the majority - which is currently being re-registered - will include the same groups that formed it a year ago, except, perhaps, for the Fatherland Party caucus. Meanwhile, Rukh leader Yurii Kostenko said Labor Ukraine's decision signals that "oligarchs" are set to break up the parliamentary majority and oust Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko's Cabinet. Mr. Yuschenko was quoted by Interfax as stating: "I'm convinced that after the re-registration the majority will become less numerous, and I fear it may become so small that it will lose its majority staturs." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Pascual urges restoration of consensus

KYIV - U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Carlos Pascual on April 7 urged the Ukrainian president, the government and the Verkhovna Rada to restore their former consensus for the implementation of reforms in the country, Interfax reported. According to Mr. Pascual, the first step toward such consensus could be taken during Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko's report to the Parliament on April 17 and in a vote on that report two days later. The U.S. ambassador also said he believes that the authorities should take a number of measures in order to improve the country's image: restore a parliamentary majority, provide specific results in the investigation of the Gongadze case, demonstrate their respect for the freedom of the press, launch a dialogue with the opposition, and restore cooperation with the International Monetary Fund. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma criticizes dependence on IMF

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma on April 5 said Ukraine has to learn how to live without the International Monetary Fund, Interfax reported. He added, however, that as of now Ukraine should not reject cooperation with the IMF because the presence of such cooperation is a signal to all countries that they can work with Kyiv. (RFE/RL Newsline)

New Criminal Code has no death penalty

KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada on 5 April 5 voted 379-3, with two abstentions, to pass a liberalized Criminal Code that replaces the death penalty with life imprisonment, Interfax reported. The Constitutional Court ruled in 1999 that the death penalty is illegal and ordered the legislature to annul corresponding articles in the Criminal Code. Under the new code, people under age 18 or older than 65 may not be imprisoned for life. The bill also limits punishments for mentally incapacitated criminals. It introduces new penalty methods, including unpaid community service, and reclassifies slander as a civil offense instead of a criminal one. The bill also outlines new types of crime, including copyright violations and illegally holding more than one professional post (an offense often committed by legislators). National Deputy Yurii Karmazin commented that the liberalized code will improve the country's overall social situation. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Parliament OKs law on political parties ...

KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada adopted a new version of the March 2000 law on political parties, which was vetoed by President Leonid Kuchma. Lawmakers rejected seven presidential amendments to the law, accepted five fully and seven partially, Interfax reported. The adoption of this law, like that of the Criminal Code, is one of Ukraine's obligations to the Council of Europe. (RFE/RL Newsline)

... but not bill on parliamentary majority

KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada failed to endorse in the first reading a bill on the parliamentary majority and the opposition. Out of the 394 deputies registered in the session hall, 172 supported the bill while 128 were against it. The parliamentary caucuses of the Communist Party, the Fatherland Party, Rukh (Kostenko), Reforms-Congress and some legislators from the Socialist Party refused to participate in the voting. The rejected bill stipulated that a parliamentary majority is a voluntary association of no less than 226 deputies who are headed by the parliament's chairman. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Parliamentary majority takes a head count

KYIV - The leadership of the pro-government parliamentary majority has decided to re-register its members, Interfax reported on April 4. According to Oleksander Volkov, leader of the Revival of Regions parliamentary group, the re-registered majority will consist of the same parliamentary groups that formed it in January 2000, except for the Fatherland Party caucus. If Mr. Volkov's expectation proves true, the majority in the 449-strong legislature will number 282 lawmakers from the Rukh (Udovenko), Greens, National Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party (United), Reforms-Congress, Rukh (Kostenko), Yabluko, Revival of the Regions, Labor Ukraine, Solidarnist and Ukraine's Regions parliamentary groups. President Leonid Kuchma on April 3 demanded that the parliamentary majority be counted anew, commenting sarcastically that "half the current majority walks the streets with placards 'Down with the president!' " (RFE/RL Newsline)

| Home Page |