Ukraine's protest amnesty law takes effect

KIEV -- The amnesty law, which drops criminal charges against protesters arrested during the unrest in Ukraine between December 27 and February 2, took effect on Monday, according to the General Prosecutor's Office.

During the weekend, demonstrators ended their occupation of administrative buildings across the country and dismantled some barricades in central Kiev in a move to fulfill the amnesty conditions set by the authorities.

On Friday, Ukrainian police released all those arrested during protests and pledged to drop criminal charges against them if their peers abandon the administrative buildings they have seized.

To back the country's European integration, massive protests have been taking place nationwide since November. The rallies turned violent on January 19 when radical activists attacked riot police with fireworks and petrol bombs.

The unrest has left at least four people dead and hundreds of others injured, including police officers.

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