Yanukovych stripped of presidential title

KYIV – Ukraine’s Parliament on February 4 adopted legislation stripping Viktor Yanukovych of his presidential title. The decision by the Verkhovna Rada was backed by 281 lawmakers; it needed 226 votes to pass. The move deprives Mr. Yanukovych of all the benefits enjoyed by former heads of state. The ex-president, who triggered mass protests in Kyiv by refusing to sign a deal tightening ties with the European Union in November 2013, fled Kyiv on February 21, 2014, and later arrived in Russia. Ukrainian lawmakers said Mr. Yanukovych must be stripped of his title because he relieved himself of duties as president “in an unconstitutional way” that threatened the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and led to “mass violations of the rights and freedoms of citizens.” On February 22, 2014, the Verkhovna Rada had voted to formally remove Mr. Yanukovych from his post on the grounds that he was unable to fulfill his duties. Two days later it issued a warrant for his arrest, accusing him of “mass killing of civilians.” (RFE/RL)