Ukrainian opposition introduced a bill denouncing Black Sea Fleet treaty

28.03.2011 Representative of "Our Ukraine" party MP Andrei Parubiy who fired smoke candles in parliament during ratification of an agreement prolonging presence of Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF) in Crimea has registered a draft bill denouncing the BSF treaty.

In Apr 2010 Russia and Ukraine achieved the agreement on prolongation of Black Sea Fleet's presence in Crimea for 25 years with possible 5-year extension. In exchange, Ukraine obtained a discount for Russian natural gas. The agreement was ratified by Russian parliament. However, during ratification of the document in Ukraine oppositional MPs egged the speaker, fired smoke candles, and used fists.

"The agreement has an anti-constitutional and anti-state nature, it jeopardizes Ukraine's national and economic security by increasing its dependence on Russian energy resources, and causes growth of Ukraine's financial and debt liability to the Russian Federation", said the document's explanatory note posted on official website of Ukrainian parliament.

Parubiy says the agreement with Russia constitutes permanent threat to Ukraine's sovereignty and drags the country into potential conflicts in the Black Sea.

After the scandal during BSF ratifications, Kiev procuracy initiated a criminal case against Parubiy and another oppositionist MP Yury Grymchak; they are charged of disorderly conduct. According to incriminations, two MPs fired smoke candles in the parliamentary session hall and by doing that they interfered in the governmental body's activity. There's no other information on the criminal case as the procuracy keeps silence. Parubiy and Grymchak still enjoy the parliamentary privilege.