KIEV, May 7 (RAPSI) – Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office intends to ask parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, for permission to prosecute several lawmakers for “promoting the breakup of the country,” acting Prosecutor General Oleg Makhnitsky said at a news conference on Wednesday.

On the eve of this announcement, the Prosecutor General's Office filed a request with the Verkhovna Rada to strip of immunity MP Oleh Tsarev, a presidential candidate in Ukraine's upcoming May 25 elections, who vehemently criticized federal authorities for their crackdown against protesters in the country’s southeastern regions.

Notably, the law enabling the acting Prosecutor General to ask the parliament to lift the immunity of MPs has yet to come into force as it was approved by the Rada on Tuesday. Consequently, the General Prosecutor’s office intends to submit another request to this effect once the law is enacted.

Pro-federalization rallies have swept southeastern regions of Ukraine since March after President Viktor Yanukovych fled the country. A special military operation to crack down on protests was launched in mid-April. Dozens of civilians were killed and injured during the clashes. The highest death toll was recorded in the city of Odessa where 46 people died and 214 were injured on May 2.

Russia’s State Duma called on Kiev authorities to stop political repression and politically motivated pursuits and to engage in constructive dialogue with all opponents.