Turchynov sets conditions for non-prosecution of southeast Ukrainian protesters
KYIV. April 10 (Interfax) - Ukrainian interim President, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov says he is ready to guarantee the immunity from criminal liabilities for protesters in southeastern Ukraine if they lay down arms and vacate the administrative buildings they have occupied.
"It would be unnecessary to pass an amnesty law if these people lay down arms and vacate the administrative buildings. We guarantee that people who disarm themselves and leave these buildings will not be prosecuted. I am ready to issue a presidential decree to this effect," Turchynov replied to the demand of the Party of Regions to amnesty the protesters in southeastern Ukraine.
Turchynov said he had spoken on the phone to people who seized the building of the Luhansk regional administration. "In order to avoid the bloodshed I made the proposition to citizens staying in that building and I am ready to make the same proposition to people staying on the premises of the Donetsk regional administration," the speaker said.
Turchynov said he had assured the interlocutors that the Verkhovna Rada was ready to broaden the rights of local councils. "We are prepared for the imminent consideration of a local self-government reform and expansion of the rights of local councils, in particular, in the formation of executive authorities by the councils," Turchynov stressed.
The interim president also said he had discussed on the phone the establishment of an international commission involving the Prosecutor General's Office, "which would verify the deaths of Ukrainian citizens in peaceful protests." Turchynov stressed such information must be investigated in an objective manner.
