KIEV, May 6 (RIA Novosti) – The Party of Regions, the previous ruling political force under ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, warned the current authorities in Kiev Monday that the process of Ukraine’s disintegration is becoming irreversible.
The party, which draws most of its electoral support from rebel eastern and southeastern regions, has laid the blame for mounting tensions in the region on the coup-imposed government.
"The Party of Regions announces its decisive protest against anti-democratic, anti-national actions of the ruling coalition and places all the blame for fuelling the civil conflict on the current irresponsible, helpless and aggressive government, which destroys the state and makes the dangerous process of Ukraine’s disintegration irreversible,” the party said in a statement.
Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, held a closed-door session on Tuesday to hear reports from the country’s law enforcement chiefs about the ongoing special operation to crack down on pro-federalization protests in the east.
The Party of Regions walked out of the session to protest against the decision to hold it behind closed doors.
Ukraine went through a regime change resembling a military coup on February 22. The Verkhovna Rada ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, changed the constitution and scheduled presidential elections for May 25.
Since March, anti-government protests have been spreading across southeastern regions of the country, where people refuse to recognize the interim government in Kiev and have called for federalization. Ukraine’s new authorities, supported by radical ultranationalist groups, launched a special operation to crack down on the protesters in mid-April, which has already led to dozens of deaths and injuries.
