You're reading: Yanukovych signs law on amnesty of EuroMaidan protesters

   Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed a law on eliminating negative consequences and preventing prosecution or punishment of individuals in regard to events that took place during peaceful rallies in Ukraine.

Yanukovych signed the bill the way it came to the presidential administration, the presidential press office said citing Presidential Administration Head Serhiy Liovochkin.

“After the president signed the bill eliminating negative consequences and preventing the prosecution or punishment of individuals participating in events that occurred during peaceful rallies, it has been sent for publication,” the press service said in a statement.

Yanukovych signed the bill amnestying protest rally participants “immediately after he received it from the Verkhovna Rada,” the document said.

As reported, on December 19 the Verkhovna Rada passed the bill, lifting the liability from protestors since November 21 until the bill comes into effect. The law stipulates that all criminal cases opened against rally participants since November 21 should be closed and individuals should be released. These people are considered to have no convictions.

New criminal cases and cases on administrative offences can not be open on participants of protest rallies or large-scale events held since November 21 until the law comes into effect.

The law will come into effect after it is signed by the president and is published.