Ukrainian parliament passes measure offering amnesty to protesters
Ukraine’s parliament has approved a measure offering amnesty to protesters arrested during anti-government demonstrations, but only if they abandon the buildings they have seized.
Lawmakers passed the measure Wednesday night, but the opposition in parliament opposed the move. Opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk described as “unacceptable” the condition that protesters vacate the buildings.
Demonstrators took to the streets in November when President Viktor Yanukovych backed out of a trade deal with the European Union in favor of closer ties to Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Wednesday that even if the opposition comes to power in Ukraine, Moscow will make good on its pledge of a $15 billion loan to Ukraine along with substantial natural gas discounts.