Ukrainian Lawmakers Just Won’t Stop Fighting Each Other

Ukraine’s parliament members are getting physical over a Russian language bill.

1.

Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn (right) watches as deputies lunge at each other on May 24. The Ukrainian parliament today announced that a controversial Russian language bill has been signed and sent to the president. The proposed law would keep Ukrainian as the country’s only official language, but upgrade Russian to a “regional language” for use in certain public institutions. Many argue the law would violate the Constitution and harm national identity. Lawmakers have spent months fighting over the law. Literally.

Image by STRINGER / Reuters

2. May 24

Image by Maks Levin / AP

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Image by Maks Levin / AP

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Image by Maks Levin / AP

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Image by STRINGER / Reuters

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Image by STRINGER / Reuters

7.

Opposition lawmaker Mykola Petruk after the fighting.

Image by Maks Levin / AP

8. June 5

Lawmakers surround the tribune.

Image by Efrem Lukatsky / AP

9.

Image by GLEB GARANICH / Reuters

10. July 3

Fighting breaks out again the day the bill is voted on.

Image by STRINGER / Reuters

11.

Deputies block the podium during the vote.

Image by STRINGER / Reuters

12. July 30

Deputy Oleg Lyashko throws tea at vice-speaker Adam Martynyuk.

Image by STRINGER / Reuters