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Ukraine annuls diplomatic passports of ex-PM, other opposition politicians

The list includes 88 names besides that of the former prime minister

Mykola Azarov Sergey Bobylev/TASS

Mykola Azarov

© Sergey Bobylev/TASS

KIEV, August 20. /TASS/. Ukrainian authorities have annulled diplomatic passports of former prime minister Mykola Azarov and 88 other politicians, the foreign ministry’s press service said on Thursday.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs annulled diplomatic passports of the following Ukrainian citizens who no longer have reasons to use diplomatic passports. This list of individuals is not final," the press service said.

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Among the politicians whose diplomatic passports were revoked are former head of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s press service Anna German, former chairman of the "Party of Regions" Alexander Yefremov, prime minister of Ukraine’s shadow government Boris Kolesnikov and member of Ukraine Salvation Committee Igor Markov detained in Italy.

Ukraine Salvation Committee

Ukraine Salvation Committee was established on August 3. Among priority tasks of the committee are to organize snap election in Ukraine and form a new government, Azarov said adding that he is confident Ukrainians remember stability during his tenure in office and will support Ukraine Salvation Committee.

"We have an anti-crisis program developed under my leadership. I had to get the country out of the crisis more than once. A similar situation occurred in 2009, only there was no war then, but it is absolutely clear to me what to do. At first, the Committee will focus on educational activities, we need to explain our position to citizens," Azarov said.

"There is one way, and it is to be guided by the interests of people. If your every decision is for the sake of the people and the country, if there is absolute confidence and guarantee, then stabilization and changes for the better will start. That is why in a year, it is first of all necessary to ensure stabilization, for people to be confident that every following year will be better," he noted.

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Former Ukrainian lawmaker says Kiev pushed away Crimea and Donbas

The second stage will include organizing snap election. "Unfortunately, there are many examples of that in Ukraine. That is why the second stage is organizing the mechanism of snap election and then forming a government, there is basis for that. And next steps will be determined by how the situation in the country will develop," the former prime minister explained.

Azarov said that Verkhovna Rada’s former deputy Vladimir Oleinik nominated by Ukraine Salvation Committee will run for president in snap election. "The conditions should be created so that mass falsifications, like in the situation with [Ukrainian President Pyotr] Poroshenko’s election, are ruled out," he stressed.

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