Ukrainian Parliament’s session

Ukrainian Parliament’s (Verkhovna Rada) session in Kiev, on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. The Verkhovna Rada has rejected to include on its session agenda a draft law No.8293, supposing denunciation of agreement extending presence of Russia's Black Sea fleet on the Ukrainian territory until 2042. 113 Members of Parliament voted for inclusion of the bill in the session agenda, while 226 votes required for approval. Thus, the bill is defeated. After the Rada's refusal to consider this document during its session, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Vladimir Litvin asked the Parliament back office to disallow registration of such bills because, in his words, denunciation of international treaties could be initiated by the Cabinet of Ministers or the President. President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich and President of Russia Dmitriy Medvedev on April 21, 2010 signed an agreement to prolong deployment of Russia's Black Sea fleet in Crimea until 2042. The Verkhovna Rada on April 27, 2010 ratified this agreement. Photo by Aleksandr Senko / UNIAN