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| Ukraine votes to give more power to east to end separatist fighting | Ukraine votes to give more power to east to end separatist fighting |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ukraine's parliament has voted to give the east of the country limited self-rule as part of proposals aimed at ending the deadly separatist insurgency. | Ukraine's parliament has voted to give the east of the country limited self-rule as part of proposals aimed at ending the deadly separatist insurgency. |
| Politicians also ratified an agreement to deeper economic and political ties with the European Union, drawing a line under the issue that last year sparked the political crisis that led to the overthrow of the president, Russia's annexation of Crimea, and a war with Russia-backed separatists that has killed more than 2,600 people. | |
| President Petro Poroshenko says the proposals will pave the way for decentralisation while guaranteeing "the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence" of Ukraine. | President Petro Poroshenko says the proposals will pave the way for decentralisation while guaranteeing "the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence" of Ukraine. |
| The main points of the legislation, unveiled as part of a peace plan signed with pro-Russian insurgents and Moscow on 5 September are: | |
| • The rebel-held Lugansk and Donetsk regions will be granted a "special status" giving them broader autonomy for a three-year period. | |
| • Local elections will be held in some districts of the two mainly Russian-speaking regions on 7 December. The last local elections held nationwide were in October 2010. | • Local elections will be held in some districts of the two mainly Russian-speaking regions on 7 December. The last local elections held nationwide were in October 2010. |
| • Use of the Russian language to be allowed in state institutions. | • Use of the Russian language to be allowed in state institutions. |
| • Regional councils will have the power to appoint local judges and prosecutors. | • Regional councils will have the power to appoint local judges and prosecutors. |
| • Local authorities in Donetsk and Lugansk can "strengthen good neighbourly relations" with their counterparts across the border in Russia. | • Local authorities in Donetsk and Lugansk can "strengthen good neighbourly relations" with their counterparts across the border in Russia. |
| • The legislation also promises to help restore damaged infrastructure and to provide social and economic assistance to particularly hard-hit areas. | • The legislation also promises to help restore damaged infrastructure and to provide social and economic assistance to particularly hard-hit areas. |
| • Another bill on amnesty protects from criminal prosecution "participants of events in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions" – appearing to apply to both the insurgents and Ukrainian government troops. Rights groups have accused fighters on both sides of abuses that might be classified as war crimes. | • Another bill on amnesty protects from criminal prosecution "participants of events in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions" – appearing to apply to both the insurgents and Ukrainian government troops. Rights groups have accused fighters on both sides of abuses that might be classified as war crimes. |
| Donetsk and Lugansk, together known as the Donbass, have a combined population of nearly 7 million people, about one-sixth of the national total. But it is responsible for nearly a quarter of Ukraine's exports and is home to strategic military production facilities that supply engines and other vital parts to the Russian space and aviation industries. | Donetsk and Lugansk, together known as the Donbass, have a combined population of nearly 7 million people, about one-sixth of the national total. But it is responsible for nearly a quarter of Ukraine's exports and is home to strategic military production facilities that supply engines and other vital parts to the Russian space and aviation industries. |
| The industrial region is dotted with coal mines and steelworks that have been the engine of Ukraine's economy since the 19th century. | The industrial region is dotted with coal mines and steelworks that have been the engine of Ukraine's economy since the 19th century. |