KIEV, June 3 (RIA Novosti) — The Ukrainian parliament voted to strip of parliamentary immunity lawmaker Oleh Tsarev, known for his sharp criticism of the government’s military operation in the east, paving the way for criminal proceedings against him.
The parliament also gave green light for the arrest of Tsarev, who openly declared his support to the pro-federalization drive in Ukraine’s eastern regions.
Last week, the country’s prosecutor general requested the parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, to allow a criminal investigation against the opposition lawmaker.
The decision was supported by 226 parliament votes - the minimum needed for the Rada approval.
Tsarev was Ukrainian presidential candidate but withdrew from the race a few days before the May 25 elections, after being beaten and threatened by nationalist radicals.
He accused Ukrainian authorities of depriving him of the opportunity "to carry the voice of the southeast" to the citizens of the rest of country.
After Donetsk and Luhansk proclaimed independence from Ukraine in May and showed low voter turnout at presidential vote, Tsarev called the elections illegitimate, but said the choice of those who supported President-elect Petro Poroshenko should be respected.
