At Thursday’s parliamentary session of the Black Sea countries, Ukrainian and Russian delegations met in Ankara, Turkey. The Ukrainians started chanting demonstratively while talking over the heads of the Russians, who are waging a war of invasion in their country, and then the shoving started. One Ukrainian MP physically attacked a Russian representative who took his flag while taking a photo.
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Delegations of Russians and Ukrainians met face to face. The scuffle ended with a punch. | Video: Reuters
During the speech of the head of the Russian delegation Olga Timofeva, representatives of Ukraine unfurled the Ukrainian flag behind her and started chanting. Members of the Russian delegation tried to interrupt their event. Timofeeva had a St. George’s ribbon pinned to her jacket, a symbol of Russian aggression. The incident occurred during the 61st General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC).
At the meeting, the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mustafa Sentop, called for peace between Russia and Ukraine. According to him, Turkey strongly supports Ukrainian independence and sovereignty and is trying to mediate negotiations on a ceasefire. However, according to him, some Western countries wish the war to continue. He did not mention any specific state.
Kyiv Post special correspondent Jason Jay Smart posted a video on Twitter in which Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Marikovskiy wanted to take a picture in the lobby with his country’s flag. Suddenly a member of the Russian delegation ran up to him, snatched the flag from his hand and carried it away. Marikovky did not like it. He ran up to the Russian and tried to hit him with his fists.
Marikovsky also later posted the clip on his Facebook account, captioning it: “Paws away from our flag, paws away from Ukraine, Russian filth!”. The Daily Beast also reported on the incident, citing Marikovsky’s post.
Insane Prigozhin at Bakhmut. He insulted Shoigu and other allies of Putin vulgarly (5/5/2023)
“These are the guys from Wagner’s group who died today. Even the blood is still fresh,” Yevgeny Prigozhin points out in the video. | Video: Reuters
