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Ukraine Cabinet sacked over gas deal

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: A week-old Russian-Ukrainian gas deal has provoked a government crisis in Ukraine, with Parliament voting to dismiss the Cabinet. Ukraine's Verhovna Rada on Tuesday passed a no-confidence motion backed by 250 of the Assembly's 450 deputies. Opposition leaders accused the Government of acting against the country's interests when it signed the January 3 agreement with Russia on natural gas supplies which raised the gas price nearly two-fold and enhanced Russia's control over gas imports to Ukraine. President Viktor Yushchenko dismissed the vote as unconstitutional. A constitutional reform under way gives Parliament the power to dismiss the Government, but laws laying down procedures for appointing a government are yet to be approved. Analysts said the Government of Prime Minister Yuri Yekhanurov is likely to survive till the election in March. But the vote has dealt a blow to Mr. Yushchenko and boosted the chances of the Opposition parties.

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