Yanukovich pledges government reshuffle

Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich, in what appeared to be an offer of concessions to the opposition amid violent protests against his rule, yesterday pledged to reshuffle the government next week and to amend sweeping anti-protest laws.

Yanukovich made his offer in comments to church leaders as the protesters erected more street barricades and occupied a government ministry building in Kiev ahead of what is expected to be another hot weekend of anti-government rallies.

The president’s Party of the Regions confirmed reports that two months of protests had spread to other parts of Ukraine, particularly to pro-European Union western regions, where it said “extremists” had seized administrative buildings.

Yanukovich, who hails from the mainly Russian-speaking east of Ukraine, said key decisions would be made at a special session of parliament scheduled to take place next Tuesday.

“I, as president, will sign a decree and we will reshuffle the government in order to find the best possible professional government team,” he said in comments carried on his website.

He gave no indication of how wide the government reshuffle would be and it was by no means certain prime minister Mykola Azarov or other key figures would have to step down.

The dismissal of the Azarov government has been one of the main demands of the opposition and Yanukovich’s words were clearly intended to look like a concession to opponents who have voiced frustration at his stalling tactics in talks until now.

The promise to reconsider anti-protest legislation, which was rail-roaded through parliament last week by Yanukovich loyalists, also appeared to be a concession, which may take some steam out of fresh protest rallies this weekend.

The mass rallies against Yanukovich’s rule erupted last November after he pulled out of a free trade deal with the European Union in favour of closer economic ties with Russia.

They have since spiralled into protests against misrule and corruption among Ukraine’s leaders and officials and there have been violent clashes in Kiev city centre in which three protesters died this week, two from gunshot wounds.

The protesters control key parts of the city centre, including its main Independence Square. Yesterday, they occupied the main agricultural ministry building after talks stalled on Thursday night between Yanukovich and opposition.

Commenting on the spread of protests to other cities, the Party of the Regions said in a statement: “The situation has grown sharper throughout the country.” It urged Ukrainians to ignore the calls of “radical troublemakers” to join the rallies.