Opposition blocks parliamentary rostrum

KYIV, January 10 /UKRINFORM/. Representatives of the Batkivshchyna faction in the Verkhovna Rada have blocked the parliament's rostrum and presidium.

This happened during a speech by faction leader Arseniy Yatseniuk, who announced a number of demands, UKRINFORM reporters said.

"We are demanding that Ukraine's course towards European integration be put as the first issue on the agenda and that a respective resolution be adopted," Yatseniuk said.

The second demand by the opposition is the decriminalization of articles of the Criminal Code, under which former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko were convicted.

The third demand by the opposition is the inclusion in the agenda of an amnesty bill that releases Tymoshenko and Lutsenko from political persecution.

"Our demands have not been met. The conciliatory council did not vote for their inclusion in the agenda. Therefore, we are demanding that this be done, and this will allow the parliament to work," Yatseniuk said.

After that, a 30-minute break was announced in parliament for consultations between the leaders of factions.