Ukraine's Yanukovich takes sick leave in midst of political crisis
- 10 years ago
Anti-government protesters huddle in solidarity as the frigid temperature dips even lower.
While Ukraine's political crisis continues, President Viktor Yanukovich takes sick leave to recover from an acute respiratory illness.
Protesters react to the news with scorn:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN CITIZEN, TAMARA, SAYING:
"I think he's sick of what's happening in the country, and he definitely needs a day off to think about that, Maybe he sees his psychoanalytic specialist, I'm not really sure... You can't really take a day off even if you are the president when such things are happening here."
A bill passed late Wednesday granting a conditional amnesty for activists who had been detained.
Justice Minister Olena Lukash said Yanukovich threatened deputies with early elections if they did not vote in favor of the amnesty:
(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN JUSTICE MINISTER, OLENA LUKASH, SAYING:
"The president of the country raised a questio
While Ukraine's political crisis continues, President Viktor Yanukovich takes sick leave to recover from an acute respiratory illness.
Protesters react to the news with scorn:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN CITIZEN, TAMARA, SAYING:
"I think he's sick of what's happening in the country, and he definitely needs a day off to think about that, Maybe he sees his psychoanalytic specialist, I'm not really sure... You can't really take a day off even if you are the president when such things are happening here."
A bill passed late Wednesday granting a conditional amnesty for activists who had been detained.
Justice Minister Olena Lukash said Yanukovich threatened deputies with early elections if they did not vote in favor of the amnesty:
(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN JUSTICE MINISTER, OLENA LUKASH, SAYING:
"The president of the country raised a questio