Kharkiv Regional Council has asked the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to look for public consensus by way of negotiations only.
“We categorically demand a discontinuation of the current
radicalization of the domestic situation through the use of armed force
and other military units in breach of Article 17 of the Ukrainian
Constitution in order to restrict civilian rights and liberties
enshrined in Articles 24-40 of the Constitution, because understanding
within society can only be found through political dialogue, compromises
and mutual concessions,” the regional council said in an appeal
approved at its Thursday session.
The majority opposed the proposal by Batkivschyna Party council
member Ivan Varchenko who insisted on the exclusion of this clause from
the appeal.
At the same time the majority backed the amendments proposed by the
Party of Regions faction leader and presidential candidate Mykhailo
Dobkin, calling for the return of Russian television channels, urgent
signing of a memorandum between the authorities and the opposition, and
the passage of an opposition law.
The appeal was voted 82-3 with three abstentions. Fifteen council members chose not to vote.
Russian must be made a second official language in Ukraine, and
parties, movements, organizations and associations promoting radicalism
should be banned, the authors also said.
A new structure of Ukraine must give broader powers to regions, the
authors said. They also insisted an objective and public inquiry into
the nationwide protests and that the 2014 amnesty law should extend to
their organizers and participants, including law enforcement officers.
