Supreme Rada ratified BSF prolongation agreement

27.04.2010 On Apr 27 Supreme Rada [Ukrainian parliament] ratified agreement between Russia and Ukraine about prolongation of Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF) based in Ukraine. According to RIA Novosti, 236 members of parliament voted for ratification.

226 votes were required for agreement to be ratified. The parliamentary session was full of incidents and brawls. For instance, smoke pots were thrown into parliament chamber, speaker Vladimir Litvin was egged, and MP Oleg Tsarev knocked down two oppositionists and "gored" another one, reports Obkom.

Prior to the session, opposition declared integrating efforts against ratification of the agreement which they dubbed "Medvedev-Yanukovich Pact". According to this document, Russia will grant Ukraine a discount on gas provided that BSF would stay in Crimea till 2042. As for oppositionists, the agreement is in violation with Ukraine's national interests.

Thousands of people take part in numerous actions in Kiev; both supporters and opponents of the agreement ratification crowded together at governmental and parliamentary buildings.

The document was also discussed in Russian State Duma on Apr 27. Predictably, Russian MPs voted for ratification.