If Yanukovych could step down from his “sick” throne momentarily…

Yatseniuk demands Yanukovych sign legislation repealing ‘dictator laws’

1:53 p.m, Jan. 31 — Opposition leader Arseniy Yatseniuk called on Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to urgently sign parliament’s repeal of Jan. 16 laws, dubbed “the dictator laws.” The measures would have curtailed free speech by criminalizing criticism of government. They also would have called for punishment of up to 15 years in prison for participants in public gatherings. The measures also would have required nongovernmental organizations to registers as foreign agents. The “dictator laws” triggered violent clashes on Jan. 19 and a tense standoff that continues today on Hrushevskoho Street. By signing the parliament-approved repeal of the laws, passed this week in emergency session, Yatsenuik said Yanukovych would signal that he is intereested in solving the national crisis peacefully. — Brian Bonner

kyivpost.com