Political crisis deepens in Ukraine as protesters reject government concessions

Anna Sonny, 31 January 2014

The divide between President Yanukovych and his country is deepening. Last year his decision to reject a deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia sparked protests in the capital city Kiev that are still reverberating throughout the rest of the country today. The concessions offered over the past few days by the President have been met with steely resolve from the opposition and the protesters, which has further intensified the political deadlock.

In the latest developments, Yanukovych accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Azarov and his cabinet. The Ukrainian Parliament repealed anti-protest laws that were passed earlier on this month, which had only served to increase tension and brutality of the police, and to affirm the need for the protest movement in the first place. This Tuesday the Parliament also voted in an amnesty bill to release prisoners currently detained for protesting, but the opposition refused to vote because of its terms; the amnesty will only go through if protesters clear the government buildings they have been occupying.

Yanukovych said the government has done all it could to end the demonstrations and has ‘fulfilled all its obligations’ –  which sounds very much as though he is not willing to go any further. But the protests are unlikely to stop unless he is removed from power. Yanukovych’s first response to the protests was force; it seems he has now left it too late to offer concessions and this has weakened his position. Reports of an acute respiratory illness and a high fever this week seemed to be a physical manifestation of this; some think the pressure has gotten to him, while others think he is biding time and trying to avoid meeting with the opposition in order to deal with the crisis.

In the meantime, Russia has announced that it would wait until a new government is formed before releasing the bailout it promised last year. After applying economic pressure on Ukraine and enticing the country away from a deal with the EU, it appears that Russia is now backing off.

The political future of Ukraine should be decided by Ukrainians themselves; some have suggested constitutional reform that would reign in the President’s authority could be a step towards a peaceful resolution. The process from a 10,000 strong protest in November last year towards what could be another revolution in Ukraine is unlikely to stop unless Yanukovych surrenders some power.