Vice speaker attacks deputy in Ukrainian parliament

Following a verbal disagreement, the vice speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Adam Martynyuk, grabbed deputy Oleg Lyashko by the throat and threw him to the floor, an assault which was caught on video.

Boing Boing reported that on May 18 Lyashko asked Martynyuk to let him make a speech, and Martnyuk refused on procedural grounds. Lyashko then reportedly called the other man a Pharisee. According to the Kyiv Post, Lyashko did not have the right to deliver a speech because he had not placed his name on a list. Lyashko said he is not going to apologize for what he said. "Why should I apologize?" Newsforall quoted him as saying. "For what I asked Martyniuk words? Let him apologize to the millions of Ukrainian people who have nothing to eat." He stated that he had met with employees of two companies that had not been paid for a long time and he promised to appeal to the leaders to take steps so that they would receive their wages. He said he turned to the vice speaker and said: “Adam Ivanovitch, I beg you to Christ, God, hundreds of people have nothing to eat. “ Directing the words to Martnyuk, he added: ” You can easily say you receive a monthly salary, live in the state dacha, not pay utility bills, so you are not interested in the problems of people who have nothing to eat . And so, when I come to power I ‘ll take you and the cottage, where you live free, and undeserved pensions .“ There have been several physical brawls in the Ukraine Parliament during the past few years. A large number of people were involved in a fight which took place in December. In April 2010 members of Parliament were captured on video throwing eggs, with the targets popping umbrellas to protect themselves.