Kiev Politician Calls for Rally Against Ukraine’s Constitutional Amendment

Oleh Lyashko, the leader of Ukraine’s Radical party, urged all Ukrainians to come to the Parliament on August 31 and defend the “independence” of their country against a constitutional reform that he thinks is “anti-Ukrainian,” the politician said in a video message posted on YouTube.

According to Lyashko, the Ukrainian parliament's decision to amend the constitution and give the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) a special status will end "the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine."

"We can't allow Donbass to be cut off, as it never existed… Come to the parliament on August 31. Together we can stop this anti-Ukrainian act," Lyashko said in a video message.

If the constitutional amendment is approved, Ukraine will start the process of decentralization and the two Donbass republics will receive a greater degree of autonomy from Kiev.

Decentralization is one of the key provisions of the Minsk agreements. The deal was signed back in February by representatives of the Donbas militias and Kiev authorities, and stipulates several measures on Ukrainian reconciliation.