Demonstrators Protest Over Ukraine's Lustration Law

KYIV -- Dozens of protesters demonstrated outside of Ukraine's Constitutional Court in Kyiv on April 16 to express support for a law aimed at sacking civil servants linked to corruption during the rule of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych's government.

Dozens of opponents of the lustration law also gathered near the court building on April 16 to protest what they called "illegal firing of officials."

The Constitutional Court is scheduled to start hearings on the lustration law later on April 16.

The lustration law was adopted by Ukrainian lawmakers in September.

About 1 million civil servants are subject to screening under the law.

Some officials in Ukraine already have been fired in accordance with law.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said on April 15 that lawmakers must take part in the Constitutional Court's hearings because there is a "conflict of interests" in the situation.

That is because some members of the court also are subject to review themselves under the lustration law.

Ukraine's Supreme Court and 47 lawmakers referred the legislation to the Constructional Court, urging it to rule on whether the lustration law violates Ukraine' constitution.