Ukraine’s President due back from sick leave amid protestsFebruary 3, 2014 - 10:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych is to return to work Monday, Feb 3, after a short sick leave, his official web site reported Sunday, as the anti-government protests continued in the capital, according to RIA Novosti. The president’s site announced last Thursday that Yanukovych had to take the sick leave due an acute respiratory illness, prompting the country’s opposition to accuse him of inaction amid the ongoing political crisis. “After having taken the needed treatment, Ukraine’s president is feeling well; his health is satisfactory,” the statement said citing the government’s chief doctor. Last week, the Ukrainian Prime Minister resigned, prompting the collapse of the government. The move followed months of protesters in Ukraine, which took to the streets in November after Yanukovych backed off from signing landmark trade deals with the EU. The movement has since transformed into a loose coalition of opposition groups seeking Yanukovych’s ouster. Tens of thousands of people, including opposition leaders Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Vitali Klitschko, gathered at an anti-government demonstration in Kyiv on Sunday. Yatsenyuk, a former foreign minister, told the crowd that they had asked the West for financial aid. Both Klitschko and Yatsenyuk attended Saturday the Munich Security Conference, where the U.S. and EU officials spoke in support for the demonstrators. Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |