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Laws causing mass protests in Ukraine published in official press and come into force - PHOTOSESSION

Laws causing mass protests in Ukraine published in official press and come into force - <span style="color: red;">PHOTOSESSION

21 January 2014 08:06 (UTC +04:00)

Baku – APA. Controversial laws that led to mass protests and clashes in Ukraine have been published in the parliament’s edition “Golos Ukraini” and government edition "Uryadoviy kuryer" and have come into force. APA reports quoting "Ukrainskaya Pravda" newspaper that the opposition said these laws mean establishment of the dictatorship in the country and thus they would continue mass protests. These documents are the following:

- Law introducing amendments to the law on judicial system and status of judges”;

- Law introducing amendments to the Verkhovna Rada's rules of procedure (simplifying the procedure for granting consent to the prosecution, detention or arrest of MPs who committed a crime)

- Law on the responsibility for administrative offences in the field of ensuring road safety

- Law on the responsibility for committing administrative offenses during football matches

- Law introducing amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code concerning criminal proceedings in absentia

- Law on eliminating negative consequences and preventing the prosecution and punishment of persons regarding the events that took place during peaceful protests on November 21-26

- Law introducing responsibility for the desecration of the graves of World War II participants

- Law introducing amendments to the Criminal Code dealing with liability for denying or justifying crimes committed by fascists or their accomplices

On January 16, the Verkhovna Rada adopted these laws without discussion. Most of the documents were passed without discussion, by a show of hands. The opposition said that the laws had been adopted in violation of the parliament's rules of procedure and described their essence as "a coup." Clashes occurred between demonstrators and law enforcement officers in Kiev on January 19, dozens of people were injured. Protests are being continued.