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         Ukraine Parliament Adopts Law on Self-Rule for Eastern Region

   by VOA News

   Ukraine's parliament has adopted legislation giving greater autonomy to
   the separatist regions in the east of the country, as well as amnesty
   for most of those involved in recent fighting with government forces.

   The new laws, which were proposed by Ukrainian President Petro
   Poroshenko, are aimed at ending the five-month conflict that has
   splintered the country.

   Ukrainian lawmakers also ratified an agreement to expand economic and
   political ties with the European Union.

   The rejection of the same EU deal by Kremlin-backed president Viktor
   Yanukovych last November triggered protests that led to his ouster,
   Russia's seizure of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and its support for the
   rebels in the east.

   Poroshenko has signed the accord but agreed to delay implementation
   until the end of next year.

   The decision is a concession to Russia, which threatened retaliatory
   trade moves that would have hurt the Ukrainian economy.

   Legislation

   Following are the main points of the legislation, as reported by the
   French news agency AFP:
     * Rebel-held Lugansk and Donetsk regions will be granted a "special
       status," giving them broader autonomy for a temporary three-year
       period.
     * Local elections in certain districts of the two mainly
       Russian-speaking regions on December 7.
     * Russian language to be allowed in state institutions.
     * Regional councils can appoint local judges and prosecutors.
     * Local authorities in Donetsk and Lugansk can strengthen relations
       with counterparts across the border in Russia.
     * Aid to restore damaged infrastructure and to provide social and
       economic assistance to hard-hit areas.
     * Another bill on amnesty protects from criminal prosecution
       "participants of events in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions" -
       appearing to apply to both the insurgents and Ukrainian government
       troops. Rights groups have accused fighters on both sides of abuses
       that might be classified as war crimes.

   Some material for this report came from Reuters and AFP.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-parliament-adopts-law-on-self
   -rule-for-eastern-region/2451232.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-parliament-adopts-law-on-self-rule-for-eastern-region/2451232.html