PACE concerned about violence by both sides in Ukraine - resolution
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has voted for a resolution on Ukraine, introducing numerous amendments to the document that do not influence its content.
The resolution gained 114 votes, 34 deputies voted against the document and 12 more abstained during a vote after the debate on the Ukrainian question, which was held as part of the PACE's winter session in Strasbourg on Thursday.
The resolution expresses deep concern concerning the escalating violence by both sides at the Euromaidan protests, calls for dialogue for a peaceful solution, and threatens to suspend the voting rights of Ukrainian delegation at the April 2014 session if grave human rights violations continue.
In particular, the resolution states that the PACE Monitoring Committee "expresses its deep concern about the political crisis that has ensued in Ukraine following the surprise decision of the Ukrainian authorities to suspend the procedure of the signing of an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement, with the European Union."
"It strongly condemns the escalating violence at the Euromaidan protests, which has already resulted in at least three fatalities," reads the document.
In this respect, the committee is concerned about "both the violent provocations by far right-wing protesters, as well as the excessive and disproportionate use of violence by the police against protesters."
"The committee therefore calls on the authorities to refrain from any attempts to forcefully break up the protest rallies and camps and protesters to refrain from any violence or actions that are clearly aimed at provoking a violent reaction from the other side," reads the resolution.
Moreover, the committee expressed its regret over the adoption "of the so-called 'anti-protest laws' package by the Verkhovna Rada on January 16, 2014, in chaotic circumstances that undermine their legitimacy, and their subsequent enactment by President Yanukovych on January 18, 2014" and called for their immediate repeal.
Besides, the committee stated that the violence and human rights violations should be brought to an immediate halt, while open and effective negotiations should be started to reach an agreement on a solution to the rapidly escalating crisis.
According to the Monitoring Committee, such an agreement should be based on pledges by both sides not to use violence, the immediate repeal of the so-called anti-protest laws and the immediate start of an open, serious and effective dialogue "between those in power and the political and civil forces united in the Euromaidan protests about the future democratic direction and geopolitical alignment of the country."
Rapporteurs Mailis Reps and Marietta de Purbaix-Lundin announced their intention to visit Ukraine in February.