Ukraine: President and opposition sign deal; Parliament votes to free rival Tymoshenko

Xeni Jardin 11:05 am Fri Feb 21, 2014

Arguments broke out in the Ukrainian Parliament on Friday. Maks Levin/Reuters

Ukraine president President Viktor Yanukovych signed a deal with opposition leaders today committing to early elections and reducing some of the president's authority. Russia has not endorsed the deal, and many protesters want Yanukovych to resign. Andrew Kramer and Andrew Higgins, reporting in the New York Times:

In a further sign of the president’s diminished influence, Parliament voted to allow the release of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been imprisoned for more than two years. In a 310-to-54 vote that is veto-proof, lawmakers decriminalized the actions for which she was incarcerated.

Related Boing Boing posts today:

• Conservative western bloggers: Ukraine strongman's pay-for-play useful idiots

• I am a Ukrainian: powerful, viral video about Euromaidan

• Scenes from a hotel near #Euromaidan

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