Nationalists Protest Near Parliament in Kiev, Demand End to MPs Immunity

Dozens of members of Ukraine’s ultranationalist Freedom party gathered outside the country's parliament building in Kiev on Thursday shouting demands to lift immunity on MPs, judges and the president.

The protest by around 30 members of the Ukrainian Freedom party has so far been peaceful with police maintaining heavy presence around the Verkhovna Rada headquarters.

A provision to end the immunity from criminal prosecution traditionally enjoyed by lawmakers and justices is contained in an agreement signed by the five political parties making up the parliamentary majority.

A pertinent bill proposed by President Petro Poroshenko will be sent for approval by the Constitutional Court later today.

Immunity granted to members of parliament and judges is enshrined in the Ukrainian Constitution and any amendments require a lengthy procedure that may take months to take effect.

Earlier this week, demonstrators have reportedly tried to storm the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's office in Kiev. The protesters demanded access to the Ukrainian administration’s conference room to make a TV statement. They also allegedly called for the resignation of the Ukrainian security agencies' chiefs, including the country's defense minister.