You're reading: Ukrainian opposition calls for President Yanukovych’s impeachment

Arseniy Yatseniuk, the leader of the Batkivschyna parliamentary faction, believes the suspension of Ukraine's European integration course is sufficient grounds for President Viktor Yanukovych's and the government's impeachment.

“If Yanukovych refuses to sign the Association Agreement, this is not only high treason but also grounds for the president’s impeachment and the government’s dismissal,” Yatseniuk said at the Thursday plenary session at the Verkhovna Rada.

Vitaliy Kovalchuk of the UDAR parliamentary faction, said at the same session that Prime Minister Mykola Azarov “has committed a crime against the state, and he and his government have really exceeded their duties.”

The Ukrainian government unanimously decided earlier on Thursday to suspend preparations for signing the Association Agreement with the EU and propose starting tripartite negotiations with the EU and Russia.

President Yanukovych, who is currently paying a visit to Austria, said earlier on Thursday that Ukraine would continue to follow the path toward European integration.

“Ukraine has followed and will continue to follow the European integration path,” Yanukovych told journalists following a meeting with Austrian President Heinz Fischer.