An explanation in depth of the vote today.
"Today, after the morning massacres had calmed down a little, opposition politicians began calling for MP's to gather in Parliament at 3pm. Deputy Lyashko and others pronounced guarantees to Party of Regions MP's that no demonstrations would be held near the building during this special session - apparently some government MP's had expressed concern for their own safety in the wake of that morning's violence and deaths.
The session did not start until around 5pm, and MPs gathered very gradually. Initially, only 227 registered (minimum quorum: 226), but as the evening wore on, more and more MP's from the Party of Regions and nominal independents arrived. By 10pm, 238 had registered to vote.
The key test came just after 10pm when the speeches ceased and a draft document was put to a vote. In the end 236 voted in favor of the "Postanova" that orders the following:
1. All Interior Ministry troops currently in Kyiv are ordered to cease fire and return to barracks.
2. All live ammunition and lethal weapons that have been issued to government forces are to be returned immediately.
3. Blocking roads and rail lines for the purpose of limiting the movement of people is to cease.
4. All anti terrorist operations currently undertaken by the State Security Service and Interior Ministry are to be stopped immediately.
5. Circumstances that have led to deaths and casualties are to be investigated and the guilty brought to trial forthwith by the Prosecutor General.
6. The Cabinet of Ministers is ordered to provide financial compensation to all victims of the recent violence and their families.
7. Activists arrested for their participation in protests are to be released and all criminal cases against them closed.
8. It is now the exclusive right of parliament to declare a state of emergency.
All of the above was passed as a "Postanova" - a one time legislative order that has the force of law, but according to Ukraine's Constitution, and unlike other laws, need not be signed by the President. Postanova's are signed by the Chairman/Speaker of the Parliament, or in his absence, by one of his Deputies. Tonight's session of Parliament was chaired by Svoboda MP Koshulynsky, and he has signed the document making it legal.
Two points of significance:
1) Parliamentary Speaker Rybak and First Deputy Speaker Kaletnyk (Communist Party) were not present at tonight's session; neither were 167 deputies from the Party of Regions, nor any of the Communist MP's. Nevertheless, a temporary majority was assembled with all members of the 3 opposition parties and most independents in attendance together with 20+ Party of Regions MPs who have now effectively defected from the government camp. According to rumors many Party of Regions MPs left the country today - including (according to some reports) Speaker Rybak. Does this signal a permanent end to the pro-Yanukovych majority in Parliament? If so, it signifies the beginning of the end of his regime.
2) Although a Postanova is a legislative order that has the force of law, and cannot be vetoed by the President, it is unclear what happens if Yanukovych issues a Presidential Decree cancelling the Postanova. Furthermore, it is unclear which should take precedent: the Law on Counter-Terrorism which has been the formal document used to authorize the use of lethal force and abrogation of civil rights during the past 2 days, or the one-time Postanova. Finally is highly unclear whether Interior Ministry forces will obey this Postanova at all.
After passing their document, Ukraine's 3 opposition leaders immediately left Parliament for the Presidential Administration building where, reportedly, they were joined by 3 visiting EU foreign ministers. Apparently they will attempt to collectively convince Yanukovych to accept the need for constitutional changes - these are to be voted on tomorrow. Whether enough votes can be gathered, and whether Yanukovych will budge are all open questions...
(written by Prof. Mychailo Wynnycky, Kyiv Mohyla Academy)"
