In the midst of the political crisis in Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych went on sick leave Jan 30.
Earlier that day, Yanukovych said he and his government were doing everything in their power to solve the crisis in the country. He also accused opposition leaders of flaming up the conflict.
In an attempt to end the widespread protests, the government passed the amnesty law with the condition that buildings occupied by protesters be vacated.
But opposition leaders accused the government of using the amnesty to take protestors as “hostages” and then trade them for government buildings, actions they say were not only unethical, but illegal.
In the past week Ukrainians have witnessed:
– the resignation of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his cabinet;
– the rejection of job propositions for the opposition
– the repeal of the anti-protest laws;
The anti-protest laws cannot be repealed until President Yanukovych signs the document.
And until the president returns from sick leave, the laws won’t be repealed and meetings to end the two-month-old protests will be delayed.
Chronology of Ukrainian protests
