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Ukraine MPs could face charges for disrupting vote on Russia treaty

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Ukrainian prosecutors said Thursday that they may file criminal charges in connection with Tuesday's Parliament session in which lawmakers hurled eggs and smoke bombs and engaged in physical violence. Chaos broke out Tuesday as lawmakers approved a treaty that will extend Russia's lease on a naval base in the Ukrainian Sevastopol port on the Black Sea until 2042 in exchange for discounted Russian gas. The agreement was strongly opposed by pro-Western lawmakers who threw eggs and smoke bombs at the speaker in an attempt to stop the vote. Despite the pandemonium, the measure passed with 236 votes in the 450-member parliament, and the treaty was signed into law Thursday. Prosecutors said that those responsible for the mayhem could face charges of hooliganism, which carries a penalty of four years imprisonment. The treaty comes soon after the election of President Viktor Yanukovych, who took office in February. Yanukovych replaced Viktor Yushchenko, who had sought to cut ties with Russia and strengthen relationships with Western Europe. Yushchenko opposed the extension of Russia's Black Sea lease.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 29, 2010 (boomark / email).