Shortly After Disappearing, Ukraine’s President Yanukovych Impeached
Ukraine's parliament, now controlled by government opposition leaders since President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev, passed a number of speedy measures Saturday, the most important being his removal from office.
President Viktor Yanukovych speaking in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Saturday after abandoning his office to protesters. (AP Photo / Regional Administration of Kharkiv)
Ukraine’s parliament, now controlled by government opposition leaders since President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev, passed a number of speedy measures Saturday, the most important being his removal from office. The Eastern European country’s only remaining functioning government organ, parliament is attempting to piece Ukraine together again by ridding it of the current administration and holding elections as soon as possible. Meanwhile, former president and Yanukovych “arch adversary” Yulia Tymoshenko, who had been held as a political prisoner since 2011, was freed Saturday, publicly stating, “The dictatorship has fallen … thanks to those people who came out to defend themselves, their families and their country.”
Al-Jazeera:
Ukraine’s parliament has voted to remove President Viktor Yanukovich from office, hours after he abandoned his Kiev office to protesters and denounced what he described as a coup.
The impeachment, which was backed by 328 of the 447 deputies, argues that Yanukovich abused his powers.
The Ukrainian parliament, which decisively abandoned Yanukovich after loyalists defected, declared on Saturday the president constitutionally unable to carry out his duties and set an early election for May 25.
Deputies in the assembly stood, applauded and sang the national anthem.
—Posted by Natasha Hakimi
This year, we’re all on shaky ground, and the need for independent journalism has never been greater. A new administration is openly attacking free press — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Your support is more than a donation. It helps us dig deeper into hidden truths, root out corruption and misinformation, and grow an informed, resilient community.
Independent journalism like Truthdig doesn't just report the news — it helps cultivate a better future.
Your tax-deductible gift powers fearless reporting and uncompromising analysis. Together, we can protect democracy and expose the stories that must be told.
This spring, stand with our journalists.
Dig. Root. Grow. Cultivate a better future.
Donate today.
Immigration
Immigration politics and the nativist cycle.
Politics
Revisiting the Agrarian-Distributists and their fabrication of an American past.
Opinion
Bernie has vowed to support the president. His commitment should be to keep Donald Trump from getting the job.
Opinion
Staunch capitalists like Gurner tell us every day they want more exploitation and precarity for people just trying to get by.
Editorial Cartoons
TD Original
In 1973, I was detained for carrying a weapon in the streets of Santiago. It could have gone much worse.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.