You're reading: MP Taruta goes to Berlin to smooth situation after incident near German embassy in Kyiv

Verkhovna Rada deputy (non-affiliated) Serhiy Taruta started out for Germany to meet German parliamentarians to settle the conflict after hooliganism committed by a Verkhovna Rada deputy belonging to the Petro Poroshenko Bloc faction, Oleksiy Honcharenko near the German Embassy in Kyiv.

Tatura, the head of the parliamentary group for interparliamentary relations with Germany, said on NewsOne on Friday that he had to miss his work in parliament and go to Berlin to settle this conflict.

“I came to calm down the situation and explain that steps of Honcharenko have no relation to the general position of the Ukrainian parliament,” he said.

He condemned the Honcharenko’s step, adding that these actions discredit Ukraine.

“Actions of Honcharenko are only barbarism and hooliganism. I condemn this step. The worst thing that he is deputy head of the large faction in parliament (Petro Poroshenko Bloc]),” he said.

Taruta expressed regret that the faction and the presidential administration did not react properly.

“Today Germany is our key international partner both in returning peace in Donbas and in lobbying for Ukraine’s interests in Europe. Honcharenko could have shown his knowledge of German in another aspect – in establishing relations – and not destroying the symbol of Germany and unity. He has discredited Ukraine with his cynical and clownish behavior. These are personal steps of a man who followed his emotions and is trying to be recognized in our country,” Taruta said.

He said that Russia could use the Honcharenko’s act to spread anti-Ukrainian moods in Europe, which does not see progress in reforms in Ukraine.

The lawmaker supports the initiative in parliament to remove Honcharenko from the Ukrainian PACE delegation.

He said that the reaction of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, who believes that the Honcharenko’s action was simply emotional, is intolerant.

“The Foreign Ministry should not use these words, as the deputy head of the major faction in the Verkhovna Rada cannot be emotional. He is politically responsible and presents the interests of the country,” Taruta said.