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OSCE PA President urges calm, supports dialogue after clashes in Ukraine

COPENHAGEN 20 January 2014

COPENHAGEN, 20 January 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ranko Krivokapic (Montenegro) today urged calm and voiced his support for dialogue in Ukraine after violent clashes in Kyiv on 19 January.

"I was saddened to learn of the violence in Ukraine. My thoughts go out to the protesters and police who were injured and their families. My fellow Parliamentarians and I have feared that continued pressure on the civil liberties of Ukraine's citizens, including on their right to assemble and speak freely, would only escalate the current stand-off – and it appears that our fears have been confirmed. I urge both sides to remain calm and exercise restraint," Krivokapic said.

"Ukraine's leaders must find a way to settle political disputes and address public grievances through dialogue and within democratically elected institutions. I am hopeful that the planned meeting between representatives of the government and opposition will be a constructive first step toward resolving the current situation," he added.

OSCE Parliamentarians continue to closely monitor the situation in Ukraine.

PA Vice-President Ilkka Kanerva (Finland) on 17 January expressed concern over legislative changes in Ukraine that impose new restrictions on street protests and re-criminalize defamation. The Parliamentary Assembly has repeatedly called on the government in recent weeks to uphold its OSCE commitments regarding fundamental freedoms.

This is a press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The views expressed in this press release do not necessarily reflect those of the OSCE Chairmanship, nor of all OSCE participating States.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 320 parliamentarians from 55 countries spanning, Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international cooperation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.