Key takeaways:
- Oleksandr Marikovskyi, a Ukrainian official, and a Russian representative were involved in a scuffle at the Summit of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC).
- The incident began when the Russian delegate’s secretary snatched away a Ukraine flag that was being held up for a photo op, and Marikovskyi grabbed it back, punching and slapping the Russian in the process.
- The incident has further escalated tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and it is unclear what repercussions, if any, the Russian delegate will face for his actions.
Ankara, Turkey – Ukrainian official Oleksandr Marikovskyi and a Russian representative were involved in a scuffle at the Summit of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) this week. The incident began when the Russian delegate’s secretary, Valery Stavitskiy, snatched away a Ukraine flag that was being held up for a photo op. Marikovskyi then grabbed it back, punching and slapping the Russian in the process.
Video of the tussle shows the Russian delegate grab Ukraine’s yellow and blue banner from Marikovskyi before he chases the flag poacher away with punches while shouting, “Paws off our flag, paws off Ukraine…” The scuffle was quickly broken up by a swarm of security guards and other diplomats.
After the confrontation, Marikovskyi posted the video on Facebook with the message, “Paws off our flag, paws off Ukraine, Russian Paskuda!” The post has since gone viral, with many Ukrainians praising Marikovskyi’s actions and condemning the Russian delegate’s behavior.
The incident has further escalated tensions between Russia and Ukraine, which have been strained since the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea. The PABSEC is an intergovernmental organization that promotes economic cooperation and development in the Black Sea region. It is unclear what repercussions, if any, the Russian delegate will face for his actions.
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