Ukraine Court Reviews Yushchenko Decree

Ukraine’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday began reviewing President Viktor Yushchenko’s snap dissolution of parliament.

The review came at the request of 53 members of Parliament, who asked for a ruling within five days, although the court’s press service didn’t indicate how long it would take, Russia’s Itar-Tass news service reported.

In the midst of a political standoff with pro-Moscow Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, Yushchenko dissolved the parliament Monday and set early parliamentary elections for May 27.

All but two members of the Cabinet voted to ignore the decree and work on, as did the majority of parliament, a Times of London correspondent in Kiev reported. The Cabinet also refused to issue budget funds for the conduction of elections.

The political bickering was based on allegations by Yushchenko’s allegations Yanukovych was usurping power and acting unconstitutionally by persuading 11 opposition deputies to switch sides.