Ukraine MPs to debate constitutional changes

Members of the Ukrainian Parliament are set to debate new constitutional changes aimed at resolving the current political crisis in the Eastern European country.

The parliamentary session was suspended until Wednesday after Ukrainian lawmakers failed to strike a deal on Tuesday on the proposed reforms that curb the powers of the country’s President Viktor Yanukovych.

The parliamentarians will meet in a bid to resolve the current crisis although the members of the ruling party and the opposition remain as divided as ever.

The western-backed opposition is pressing for a return to the 2004 constitution, which does not let the president appoint the prime minister and the entire government as well as regional governors.

The opposition also wants unconditional amnesty for those detained in anti-government protests across the former Soviet Republic.

The Ukrainian government has already granted his opponents a series of concessions, including an amnesty for jailed demonstrators, except for those who were suspected of committing major crimes.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and the entire cabinet have resigned and a series of laws restricting the protests has been abolished.

Authorities believe the president could call early elections if no other way is found to end the turmoil.

Ukraine has been rocked by anti-government protests since Yanukovych refrained from signing an Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) at the third Eastern Partnership Summit in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, on November 29, 2013 in favor of closer ties with Russia.

Kiev and Moscow reached a strategic economic and trade deal last December, which provides Ukraine with significant discounts on imported Russian gas and billions of dollars in credit.