Opposition defenders of Ukrainian language picketing Verkhovna Rada
KYIV. July 30 (Interfax) - The opposition Batkivshchyna and Freedom are picketing the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada edifice, where a special session started at 10:00 a.m. local time (11:00 a.m. MSK).
The opposition formed a live chain from Europe Square along Grushevsky Street and Shelkovychnaya Street. The protesters are standing on the sidewalk and are not impeding traffic.
Plenty of policemen and Berkut special unit officers have been deployed in the Verkhovna Rada yard.
Meanwhile, Party of Regions deputies had occupied the parliament presidium and rostrum before the session began. Party of Regions deputies are also staying in the governmental box, while others are standing around the parliament rostrum, an Interfax correspondent reports.
Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn said earlier the special session's agenda included several draft resolutions on re-voting the bill "On principles of the state language policy."
The Verkhovna Rada passed the bill initiated by the Party of Regions on July 3 to strengthen the position of Russian and other national minority languages in the areas where national minorities constitute 10% or more of the population.
The opposition alleged numerous violations in the adoption of the bill. Lytvyn and Vice-Speaker Mykola Tomenko tendered their resignations on July 4.