Ukrainian protesters leave Kiev City Hall after nearly 3-month occupation

KIEV, Ukraine – Anti-government demonstrators in Ukraine's capital have vacated Kiev City Hall as promised in exchange for the release of all jailed protesters.

The last of 234 jailed protesters were released this week under an amnesty that also called for opposition activists to end their occupation of government buildings in Kiev and elsewhere.

Demonstrators had seized Kiev City Hall on Dec. 1, about a week after mass street protests broke out against President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to abandon a long-anticipated political and economic treaty with the European Union.

The president, whose support base is in the Russian-speaking east and south of the country, turned to Russia instead for loans to keep Ukraine's economy afloat.

Sunday's handover of City Hall was overseen by the head of the Kiev city administration.