The Ukrainian Parliament broke out into a fistfight after one member approached Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and physically hoisted him from the podium.
Oleh Barna, a member of President Petro Poroshenko’s bloc, approached Yatsenyuk with a bouquet of roses. Yatsenyuk, who was delivering the end-of-the-year report, looked surprised. Barna grabbed Yatsenyuk around the waist, lifted him off his feet, and pulled him off the podium.
Members of Yatsenyuk’s party ran to the front to protect the Prime Minister. Yatsenyuk made his way back to the podium, where he viewed the fight until cooler heads prevailed.
Barna has been collecting signatures to oust Yatsenyuk from his position.
“Yesterday I announced about my initiative in the committee. Not only Yatsenyuk but his entire Cabinet should be dismissed,” he said on November 30.
Barna’s People’s Front party expelled him from five parliamentary sessions.
Ukraine’s Parliament has developed an international reputation for erupting into violence without warning. In February, two members fought in the halls of the Parliament building.
The men did not agree on an anti-corruption bill.
In July 2014, Nikolai Levchenko, member of the Party of Regions, did not agree with a passed decree to “increase military reserves and enlist male citizens under 50.” Another member dragged him off the podium, and chaos ensued.
In April 2014, the Communist Party accused the Svoboda Party “of playing into the hands of Russia.” Svoboda members did not appreciate the accusation and attacked.
Yatsenyuk became Prime Minister after the Parliament ousted Russian-backed President Viktor Yanukovych on February 22, 2014. But as these next videos show, Ukraine could not shed everything from its past.
In December 2012, Parliament attempted to discuss the Russian language and jailing of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Members sustained broken ribs and bruises in this brawl.
In May 2012, a fight broke out over a bill to allow the Russian language in courts and hospitals in Russian-speaking regions.
In March 2013, a fight broke out after someone spoke Russian on the floor.
In April 2010, yet another fight occurred when some members asked about a law to allow Russia to use a naval base on Crimea.
Four years later, in March 2014, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. The vote is not recognized by the U.S., EU, or NATO.
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