Tensions in Kyiv high as Amnesty law deadline expires

Maidan Square file photo

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – February 17, 2014) After two weeks of calm, tensions in Kyiv are high again as a 15 day deadline on the new amnesty law expires. So far the prospects for compromise seem good as both sides in the conflict made gestures that will deescalate tensions, the threat of renewed violence remains is again just under the surface.

The law was part of a package passed by the government two years ago designed to bring an end to the street fighting. Under the terms of the deal all protestors that comply with the riders in the law (leave occupied government buildings, leave the central square) will be excused for any law breaking committed between December 27 and February 2, according to a statement on the general prosecutor’s website.

The statement did not specify how many protesters would be amnestied. Ukraine’s chief prosecutor said in early February that a total of 259 demonstrators would receive clemency under the agreement, Ria Novosti reports.

However, it is exactly those riders that will cause the problems. The opposition leaders rejected the amnesty out of hand, calling instead for a blanket amnesty with no riders.

Taking a cynical view, the ruling Regions party included the riders precisely because they knew that the offer would be rejected. However, the offer of an amnesty gives the government the excuse that it tried to compromise, but the intention was from the start to send in police and army to clear the square by force.

Indeed, according to reports some 50 ruling Party of Regions deputies were willing to vote through an unconditional amnesty bills, but Yanukovych personally arrived at the Rada building on the eve of the vote and bullied them into voting on his version of the law with the caveats.

Even if this is not the case, tensions are high as this is clearly a possibility and the next few days will be crucial in deciding how the next phase of the protests play out if they remain peaceful or if it becomes bloody.

A key flash point was removed from the game on Sunday when protestors left City Hall in central Kyiv, which they have been occupying for the last two months and used as the movements headquarters. However, they threatened to take it back again if the government didn’t hold up its side of the bargain.

Volodymyr Makeyenko, the head of the Kiev city state administration, said the talks with the opposition were constructive and a compromise was reached that demonstrators would vacate the building to allow city authorities to resume their work, Ria Novosti reports.

“This is the first step towards settling the political crisis and signals that the Ukrainian opposition seeks a peaceful agreement,” Makeyenko said. He thanked the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for acting as a mediator at talks.

Protestors also withdrew from the barricades in Hrushevshoho Street in central Kyiv on the edge of the government district, which has been the scene of some of the worst fighting.

For its part the government released the last of the 234 protesters from jail as part of the amnesty deal. Only one protestor is reportedly still under arrest.

Some bulldozers moved in to the centre of Kyiv to start removing barricades. However, elsewhere protestors were reinforcing their barricades, replacing the bags of melting snow with sand.

Despite the gestures of peace-making Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has not been acting like someone who is preparing for peace. He has used the last two weeks of relative calm to increase his control over the government and regions with a string of sackings and new appointments putting in more people who are personally loyal to him in key posts in the security services and regional administrations.
Ukraine Map and Flag

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