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| Ukraine judges 'facing threats' |
| Kyjev, 10.04.2007 |
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| Several Constitutional Court judges in Ukraine are threatening to quit a key case about a power struggle pitting the president against the prime minister.
The court of 18 judges is to consider whether President Viktor Yushchenko had the right to dissolve parliament and call a snap poll in May.
But five judges say they are coming under too much political pressure and have asked for police protection.
Hearings due to start on Wednesday have been delayed, but no reason was given.
Proceedings will now begin on 17 April.
Supporters of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych have likened Mr Yushchenko's decree on dissolving parliament to a coup d'etat, and say they will take no notice unless the Constitutional Court rules that it is legally valid.
The stand-off between the two camps has plunged Ukraine into its worst political crisis since the pro-democracy Orange Revolution of 2004.
The two men met again on Tuesday, but failed to resolve the situation.
Crowds of supporters from both sides have been on the streets, raising fears of possible clashes.
'Incitement'
A day before hearings were due to start, Judge Petro Stetsyuk said he and four colleagues could take no further part in the case "until conditions are provided for unbiased, independent examination".
He said judges were being subjected to "overt public threats" and "pressure exerted by some political forces willing to intimidate them and make the court politicised in order to adopt decisions that are beneficial for them".
The five did not say specifically who was behind the political pressure.
JUDGES WHO SIGNED STATEMENT
Dmytro Lylak
Volodymyr Kampo
Petro Stetsyuk
Viktor Shyshkin
Yaroslava Machuzhak
However Viktor Shyshkin, a signatory of the joint statement, said one factor was the "constant incitement from the rostrum of parliament".
The five judges who spoke out on Tuesday included three Yushchenko appointees, one judge appointed by parliament and one from the legal community, AFP news agency said.
But another report said the hearings could still go ahead as only 12 of the 18 members were needed for a quorum.
Question of numbers
Mr Yushchenko accuses Mr Yanukovych of trying to usurp his power by illegally luring MPs over to his coalition to increase his parliamentary majority.
Under the constitution, only factions - not individuals - can change sides. But last month 11 MPs allied with Mr Yushchenko switched sides.
If Mr Yanukovych gains 300 deputies in the 450-seat house, he will have the power to overturn presidential vetoes and oversee new constitutional change.
Mr Yushchenko became president in January 2005 after the Orange Revolution which overturned a rigged victory for Mr Yanukovych.
But Mr Yushchenko was forced to accept his rival as prime minister after his allies failed to win a majority in the March 2006 parliamentary election, and the two men have repeatedly clashed
BBC News |
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