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Oleksandr Turchynov assumes duties as Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief

Earlier, the Rada vested Turchynov with powers to sign country’s laws

Ukraine's interim president Oleksandr Turchynov EPA/YURI MAXIMOV

Ukraine's interim president Oleksandr Turchynov

© EPA/YURI MAXIMOV

KIEV, February 26. /ITAR-TASS/. Speaker of Ukraine’s parliament Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Turchynov, who has been appointed interim president of Ukraine, has assumed the duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A decree to this effect has been signed. “Under Article 106 and Article 112 of the Constitution of Ukraine I enter into duties of commander-in-chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces,” the decree says.

Earlier, the Rada vested Turchynov with powers to sign country’s laws. The decision to this effect was supported by 316 lawmakers.

Formation of new government

Leaders of Ukrainian parliamentary factions Batkivshchyna (Fatherland), Svoboda (Freedom) and Udar (Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform) are holding consultations with activists of protest movement over composition of a new government, Batkivshchyna faction leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk told reporters on Tuesday.

The faction leader noted that people included in a government “will quit big politics for a long time.” “We realize that it will be difficult to combine professionalism of government and representation of Maidan (protest movement),” the politician said, adding that “the only possible principle of transparency and trust to each other should be chosen.”

“A future government will face outstanding challenges, and I should say frankly that, on the one hand, members of a new government will save the country, but, on the other hand, they should realize that they commit a political suicide,” Yatsenyuk added.

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