This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/28/ukraine-prime-minister-mykola-azarov-resigns

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ukraine prime minister Mykola Azarov tenders resignation Ukraine's prime minister Mykola Azarov tenders resignation
(35 minutes later)
Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov offered his resignation on Tuesday, saying in a statement he was stepping down because of the threat to the economy caused by two months of unrest. Ukrainian prime minister Mykola Azarov offered his resignation on Tuesday, saying he hoped the move would help bring a peaceful resolution to the crisis that has gripped the country for two months.
He said he had personally asked President Viktor Yanukovich to accept his resignation for the sake of a peaceful settlement to conflict in the country. "The conflict situation which has come about in the country is threatening the economic and social development of Ukraine, creating a threat to the whole of Ukrainian society and to each citizen," said Azarov, adding that he had personally asked President Viktor Yanukovich to accept his resignation.
"The conflict situation which has come about in the country is threatening the economic and social development of Ukraine, creating a threat to the whole of Ukrainian society and to each citizen," Azarov said.
Under the constitution, the departure of the prime minister means the resignation of the entire government.Under the constitution, the departure of the prime minister means the resignation of the entire government.
The pro-western protests in Kiev began on 21 November after Yanukovych shelved a long-planned political and economic treaty with the European Union, then accepted a huge bailout package from the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, instead. The crisis was aggravated in recent days when protesters and police clashed violently. Azarov's statement was released as the parliament opened a special session expected to repeal harsh anti-protest laws that were imposed this month. Yanukovych has been under increasing pressure since he pushed the tough laws through parliament, setting off clashes and protests in other parts of the country in a sharp escalation of tensions after weeks of mostly peaceful protests over his rejection of a deal to deepen ties with the 28-nation European Union.
Azarov's statement was released as the parliament opened a special session expected to repeal harsh anti-protest laws that were imposed this month. Those laws set off the clashes between police and protesters, in which at least three protesters died.
Azarov's resignation has yet to be accepted by the president, but that appears to be only a formality. Yanukovych last week offered the premiership to Arseniy Yatsenyuk, one of the opposition's top figures. Yatsenyuk turned down the offer on Monday.Azarov's resignation has yet to be accepted by the president, but that appears to be only a formality. Yanukovych last week offered the premiership to Arseniy Yatsenyuk, one of the opposition's top figures. Yatsenyuk turned down the offer on Monday.
The prime minister's resignation would remove one of the figures the opposition most despises, and repeal of the anti-protest laws would remove a severe aggravating factor in the crisis. But the moves stop well short of the opposition's demands, which include Yanukovych's resignation. The prime minister's resignation would remove one of the figures the opposition most despises, and a repeal of the anti-protest laws would remove a severe aggravating factor in the crisis. But the moves stop well short of the opposition's demands, which include Yanukovych's resignation.
Yanukovych says an amnesty for dozens of protesters arrested in the demonstrations will be implemented only if protesters leave the streets and vacate buildings they have occupied. The protests look unlikely to end unless other demands are met. Another potential sticking point is that a proposed amnesty for arrested protesters will not be offered unless demonstrators stop occupying buildings and end their round-the-clock protests and tent camp in Kiev's central Independence Square.
Protest leaders say scores of people have gone missing, presumably arrested.
Three protesters died in the clashes last week, two of whom were shot by hunting rifles, which police insist they do not use.
Read more
Yanukovych's future may depend on oligarchs as much as protesters
Andrey Kurkov: my Kiev home is now a war zone. But I'm not quitting