Violent Protests in Kiev as Ukraine Oks Russian Navy Lease

World | April 27, 2010, Tuesday // 12:03|  views

Ukrainian parliamentarians scuffle in the Parliament's hall in Kiev, Ukraine 27 April 2010, during parliamentary debates on ratification of Russian-Ukrainian agreement extending the presence of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine until 2042. EPA/BGNES

Protests escalated into violence in Kiev as the Ukrainian Parliament approved Tuesday the lease of the Sevastopol base to the Russian Navy until 2042.

Some 10 000 are reported to have rallied outside the Parliament building while opposition deputies threw eggs and smoke bombs inside the plenary hall as the MPs from President Viktor Yanukovich’s coalition approved a 20+5-year extension of the Russian base rights on the Crimean Peninsula. Parliament Chair Volodymyr Litvyn had to take cover from the eggs hurled. At him.

"This day will remain a black page in the history of Ukraine and the Ukrainian parliament," opposition leader and former premier Yulia Tymoshenko stated.

Ukrainian Parliament ratified the new deal with Russia by 236 votes, ten more than the minimum required number. Under the agreement that Yanukovich made with the Russians, the Russian Black Sea navy will remain at Sevastopol till 2042, while Ukraine is going to enjoy preferential prices for Russian natural gas.

Shortly after the vote on the Russian agreement, the Ukrainian Parliament approved the country’s state budget for 2010 which is crucial for the securing of EUR 12 B bailout package from the International Monetary Fund.

The Russian Duma approved the agreement with Ukraine by 410 votes in favor out of a total of 450 votes about an hour after the vote at the Ukrainian Parliament.

The Russian navy has about 16 000 servicemen and 40 vessels stationed at the Sevastopol base, which it has occupied since the 18th century. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia and Ukraine were tangled in complex negotiations with ended in 1997 with a deal for the withdrawal of Russian forces by 2017.

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Tags: Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovich, Russia, Sevastopol, naval base, Kiev, natural gas, Russian gas

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