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Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament says PACE sanctions are inevitable

Speaker of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada thinks the country is unlikely to avoid sanctions from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

KIEV, February 7 (Itar-Tass) —— Speaker of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, or parliament, Vladimir Litvin said on Tuesday the country is highly unlikely to avoid sanctions from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

“I forecast a next step – sanctions. In this context I call on the lawmakers to show responsibility in implementing the January 26 resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Ukraine,” he said. At the same time, he admitted that “it is rather problematic” to implement PACE recommendations and introduce amendments to the national constitution in a short while.

In his words, the lawmakers are to be motivated by the changing tone of PACE documents regarding the country – from recommendations to demands. The speaker urged his colleagues to do their best to prevent the possible isolation of the country and called to give up disputes.

Last week, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich set up a working group on the implementation of the PACE's resolution that recommended Kiev to drop office abuse charges from the country’s former top-ranking officials. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe threatened to impose sanctions against Ukraine in case the latter ignores its recommendations.

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