Ukraine's parliament erupts into chaos
Chaos erupts as smoke bombs and eggs are thrown and fighting breaks as Ukraine's parliament ratified a bitterly controversial deal with Russia extending the lease of a key naval base. The deal signed last week by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych had been slammed by the pro-Western Ukrainian opposition as a historic surrender of sovereignty. Deputies also started fighting over a massive Ukrainian flag in the middle of the chamber, twisting and distorting the yellow and blue banner as smoke continued to billow in the chamber. April 27, 2010 (GENIA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Smoke from smoke bombs fills the session hall as ministers look on in the background during ratification of the Black Sea Fleet deal with Russia, in parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 27, 2010. The countries' presidents agreed last week to extend the Russian navy's use of the Sevastopol port for another 25 years after the old lease expires in 2017. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Deputies of Ukraine's parliament fight during a session in Kiev as parliament ratified a bitterly controversial deal with Russia extending the lease of a key naval base. Russia's lower house of parliament unanimously ratified a deal with Ukraine to extend the lease of the Russian Black Sea Fleet on a base in Crimea until at least 2042. (SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Deputies of Ukraine's parliament gasp in the smoke filled air after fighting broke out and smoke bombs and eggs were thrown, while Ukraine's parliament erupted into chaos as it ratified a bitterly controversial deal with Russia extending the lease of a key naval base. The deal signed last week by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych had been slammed by the pro-Western Ukrainian opposition as a historic surrender of sovereignty. (SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Deputies of Ukraine's parliament fight during a parliament sitting in Kiev on April 27, 2010, after parliament ratified a bitterly controversial deal with Russia extending the lease of a key naval base. The deal signed last week by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych had been slammed by the pro-Western Ukrainian opposition as a historic surrender of sovereignty. (SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Ukrainian opposition and pro-presidential lawmakers fight against each other during ratification of the Black Sea Fleet deal with Russia, in parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, April 27, 2010. Ukraine's parliament has voted to extend Russia's lease of a Crimean naval port for the Black Sea Fleet in a chaotic session during which eggs and smoke bombs were thrown. The countries' presidents agreed last week to extend the Russian navy's use of the Sevastopol port for another 25 years after the old lease expires in 2017. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)
Security personnel use umbrellas to protect Speaker of Ukraine's parliament Volodymyr Liytvyn during a fight at a parliament sitting in Kiev on April 27, 2010. (SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn takes shelter under umbrellas as eggs rain down on him during a session in the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev April 27, 2010. Opposition lawmakers hurled eggs and smoke bombs inside Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday as the chamber approved an agreement allowing the Russian Navy to extend its stay in a Ukrainian port until 2042. (REUTERS/Gleb Garanich)
Guards cover parliament speaker Volodymr Lytvyn with umbrellas as protection from eggs thrown by opposition lawmakers during ratification of the Black Sea Fleet deal with Russia, in parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, April 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Deputies of Ukraine's parliament fight during a parliament sitting in Kiev on April 27, 2010. Fighting broke out and smoke bombs and eggs were thrown as Ukraine's parliament erupted into chaos as it ratified a bitterly controversial deal with Russia extending the lease of a key naval base. (SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Deputies fight during a session in the chamber of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev April 27, 2010. Opposition lawmakers hurled eggs and smoke bombs inside Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday as the chamber approved an agreement allowing the Russian Navy to extend its stay in a Ukrainian port until 2042. (REUTERS/Gleb Garanich)
Ukrainian opposition and pro-presidential lawmakers fight against each other during ratification of the Black Sea Fleet deal with Russia, in parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Now that's a lively parliamentary debate
Posted by: Peter | 04/27/2010 at 02:46 PM
Unbelievable. I've seen three year olds behave with more restraint and respect.
Posted by: Sue | 04/27/2010 at 02:59 PM
LOL
undignified yes, but hilarious!
Posted by: Julia | 04/27/2010 at 03:19 PM
hehehe I wish it would happen here but our politicians are there for personal gains not what they believe in.
basically to get elected and get a nice pension after.
Posted by: Tony Touch | 04/27/2010 at 03:33 PM
It seems that East and West Ukraine should not be in the same country due to their different histories and focus, the east looking to Russia, the west looking to Europe and the US. Its funny the Ukrainian immigrant to Toronto are so serious, hardworking, rational and are model immigrants while their homeland appears the be total anarchy. Perhaps some Ukrainian Canadians need to go back to run the country.
Posted by: Andrew Cosolo | 04/27/2010 at 04:09 PM
Oh dear.
Posted by: cmwinner | 04/27/2010 at 04:14 PM
wow.... just... wow... This is something right out of a frat boy movie.
Posted by: Jennifer | 04/27/2010 at 04:51 PM
Way to show Russia how we feel about them taking what belongs to us!
Posted by: O | 04/27/2010 at 04:54 PM
Haha awesome. If only we could get our politicians to have that much passion about their country and people.
Posted by: B Jay | 04/27/2010 at 05:29 PM
Wow. Unbelievable.
Posted by: Margaret | 04/27/2010 at 06:53 PM
Gee maybe we need a few of those politicians playing defense for the Leafs
Posted by: Paul in Guelph | 04/27/2010 at 07:49 PM
Gee maybe we need a few of those politicians playing defense for the Leafs (+1)
Posted by: mike | 04/27/2010 at 08:35 PM
But in the Legislature Smackdown semi-finals, will the Ukrainians prevail against the world champion Taiwanese?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xCn3ZYTU0Y
Posted by: Tim | 04/28/2010 at 12:47 AM
"What a real Manny Pacquia fans turning into real action". Well, what else can they do, soemtime if you can't fight someone politically you sure have to fight them physically..
Posted by: greh | 04/28/2010 at 01:50 AM
Tatar Crimea (and Sevastopol) should stay Tatar! It's under government of Russia since 1783 and was formally "gifted" to Ukraine in 1954 by Chrushchev. Who privately "owns" this land now? Ask crimean people please.
Posted by: Igor | 04/28/2010 at 03:16 AM
A damn good argument for removing ALL! nuclear warheads...Scary!
Posted by: Len Thomson | 04/28/2010 at 08:25 AM
(LOL)What was in that water?
Posted by: E.R. of the GTA-Area | 04/28/2010 at 10:22 AM