Ukrainian opposition promises to push Black Sea Fleet out of Sevastopol

17.11.2010 Leader of Ukrainian opposition party "Narodny Rukh" Boris Tarasiuk declared that if his party comes to power, the agreement extending presence of Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF) in Sevastopol will be undoubtedly denounced.

Tarasiuk made that statement during the meeting with delegation of Denmark's military academy, reported the party's press-service.

According to the politician, both Ukrainian and international legislation afford an opportunity to tear up the Kharkov agreements. Tarasiuk explained that the mentioned treaties are contrary to some international rules, Ukrainian Constitution, the Ukraine's Law of International Agreements, and Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. In particular, the Russian-Ukrainian agreements can be considered illegitimate, since there was no quorum in Ukrainian parliament while the issue was debated, so the treaty was ratified in contravention of Ukrainian Constitution. In this context, the leader of "Narodny Rukh" warned that the agreement would be denounced as soon as they return to power.

We recall that on Apr 27, 2010 Ukrainian and Russian parliaments simultaneously ratified the bilateral agreement prolonging presence of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol for 25 years after 2017. The treaty provided increase of lease payment for Russian naval base deployed in Ukrainian territory.