KYIV. Jan 28 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has accepted Prime Minister Mykola Azarov's and the government's resignation, says a decree published on the presidential website on Tuesday.
At the same, Yanukovych instructed the government to continue its work until a new government is put together.
The president accepted Azarov's resignation in line with Ukrainian Constitution Article 115 and Article 106, Part 1, Clause 9, which also implies the resignation of the entire Ukrainian Cabinet of ministers, and so the president also accepted the entire government's resignation, the decree says.
The Cabinet's press service reported earlier on Tuesday that Azarov had tendered his resignation, saying in motivating it that the conflict situation that had taken shape in the country jeopardized Ukraine's economic and social development and posed a threat to Ukrainian society and each citizen individually.
Azarov was appointed Ukrainian prime minister in March 2010. The government led by Azarov underwent a formal resignation procedure following parliamentary elections on December 3, 2012.
Yanukovych nominated Azarov for prime minister again on December 9, 2012, and the newly-elected parliament confirmed his nomination.
The Ukrainian Constitution stipulates that the prime minister's resignation leads to the entire Cabinet of ministers' resignation. However, a Cabinet whose resignation has been accepted by the president should continue performing its duties at the president's request until a new Cabinet can start its work, but no longer than 60 days.