Verkhovna Rada repeals “Janaury 16 laws” (Video, live stream)

The Ukrainian authorities had to make concessions.

At a special session on Tuesday January 28, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted on the abolition of nine controversial laws adopted on January 16. As many as 356 MPs voted to scrap a package of laws without debate.

A special session of the parliament began at 10:00 (local time). Many Ukrainians expect it to give a start to the process of tackling the current political crisis.

It became known at the beginning of the parliamentary session that Ukraine's PM Mykola Azarov resigned.

The national resistance headquarters also called on Kyiv residents to gather at Maidan at noon on January 28, coordinator Oleksandr Turchynov said at a press conference.

“Come tomorrow at 12:00 noon to support the MPs who are ready to take responsibility and repeal the dictatorial laws [adopted by the Rada on January 16]. Support those ready to vote for the release of political prisoners and closing their cases, for the resignation of the government, the return to the Constitution of 2004 and the restoration of Ukraine's constitutional order,” the opposition activist said.

The situation in Kyiv was calm in the morning. No clashes between protesters and the police were noticed.