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WILD VID! Ukrainian Lawmakers Brawl in Parliament

Dec. 13, 2012 9:34am Madeleine Morgenstern

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — A violent brawl between supporters of the president and opposition lawmaker broke out in parliament on Thursday, nearly overshadowing the naming of a new pro-government speaker to lead the fractious body.

The Party of Regions led by President Viktor Yanukovych secured a slim majority in the Verkhovna Rada on Thursday following an October election condemned as unfair by the West. But three opposition parties made a strong showing and vowed to challenge Yanukovych’s grip on power.

Some took that literally. For the second day of the new parliament’s work, fists flew as opposition lawmakers chanted “Shame! Shame!” and “No to defectors!”

Shortly after parliament began its work Thursday morning, opposition lawmakers swarmed the parliament’s podium and a fight erupted with pro-government legislators. Lawmakers wrestled with each other and some deputies were knocked over in the melee.

Opposition lawmakers were angry over the fact that some of their opponents continued the controversial practice of voting in place of their absent colleagues, despite a recent ban.

Yanukovych ally Volodymyr Rybak, a 66-year-old former mayor of the eastern city of Donetsk, interrupted his speech in frustration.

“Esteemed deputies, let us calm down,” he said as the fight continued and he was widely ignored.

After a short break was announced and the fight ended, Rybak was elected parliament speaker in a 250-450 vote by Yanukovych allies. The opposition refused to take part.

Getty Images

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Comments (21)

Army_of_One
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 8:55am
Coming to America soon…! I think we could solve numerous gridlocks with a good old fashioned malay!!!

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adeleeeee
Posted on December 14, 2012 at 2:53am
It looks Asia to me.

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snufy
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 11:22pm
This is pretty funny. I didn’t see a one of them that knows how to fight…just pushing and shoving. I did see one punch thrown, but he didn’t do any damage. I think the U.S. congress should act this way, only that the winner gets their bills passed.

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TulsaYeeHaw
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 7:19pm
Now THAT is a body that doesn’t do half-@$$ debating.

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blissdesignz
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 11:35am
With the way things are here now, it’s only a matter of time before we see this going down on CSPAN at home!

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- muffythetuffy
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 1:14pm
  THIS IS HOW CONGRESS CAN GET THINGS DONE
  
  Congress can learn from the Ukraines.
  
  Report this comment
jessieH
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 11:27am
It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world. Can’t wait to see one of the GOP lay Pelosi & Reid out!

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DadRocked
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 10:49am
Look at he pictures again…
Notice how some are acting like it’s an everyday occurance and no biggy?

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- seriouslywhy
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 11:30am
  LOL, looks like a scrum. I don’t think the American Congress is very far from this.
  
  Report this comment
whatthecrazy
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 10:26am
You call that a fight? If that were women **** would be flying! Nothing more formidable than women PMSEN or Mental pausen.I think an army of women with these disorders could take down a whole mid east country by themselves;)

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ResistSocialism
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 10:02am
Future U.S. congress

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- MeMadMax
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 10:35am
  The Ukrainian gov’ment is alive and well.
  
  Report this comment
- hayesstephen
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 10:36am
  Sorry you are incorrect. Those people care about something that why they are so passionate. The criminals we have in our Congress care only about themselves and not one wit what happens to our Country or we Citizens. Never happen here. Unless Congress unionizes.
  
  Report this comment
- TulsaYeeHaw
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 7:20pm
  It happened here before. Several times.
  
  Report this comment
OldSurfRat
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 9:58am
Now thats my kind of politics

Yeee Hawww.

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Zipit
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 9:55am
Thought at first that it was teamsters meeting, but they’re dressed way to well!

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Bonnieblue2A
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 9:41am
Frankly, we need GOP members who are willing to fight for the taxpayers instead of rolling over. I might respect them more. I’m not talking all out violence, just spirited debate and gentlemanly fist-to-cuffs in order to protect and uphold the US Constitution to which they swore their oaths of office.

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- jungle J
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 9:47am
  now you’re talking….maybe not actually fight but have the technical s to.
  
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- red_white_blue2
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 10:04am
  We need that passion in our Congress. Certainly would be an improvement over the dishwater, dishrags we got floating in there now doing a whole lot of nothing.
  
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- BODYBAG
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 10:14am
  With all due respect, there are no rules in warfare. One person lives and the other dies.
  You can use flowery “civilized” verbage and dance around it all day long but in the end
  its all ends the same.
  
  And yes, we do need representatives who are willing to do whatever it takes to defeat
  Communism — the thing that now has a choke-hold on this Nation.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 10:21am
  The ones we have in charge are spineless weasels only concerned about keeping their titles and graft. The ones who actually stand up for the citizen and future citizens are stripped of their committee positions. I’ve voted for my last GOP candidate. They’ll have to pull off some miracle liberty legislation to get me to support their weak willed statist enabler rear ends in the future. As it is, they seem like Commie-lite (tm Busch corporation)
  
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