A viral video on Friday showed Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Marikovskyi punching a Russian representative after the latter snatched the Ukrainian flag from him during the 61st Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) in Turkey's Ankara, over 14 months after Russia invaded Ukraine. In the video, Marikovskyi was taking photographs, holding the country’s flag when an unidentified Russian representative quickly walked towards him and snatched the flag then hurriedly walked away. Marikovskyi chased the Russian representative to get the flag back and started punching him. He was intercepted by other officials but after he snatched the flag back the two men were separated. Others present at the spot were seen filming the incident.
The clip, posted by Jason Jay Smart, a special correspondent for the Kyiv Post on Twitter, and a political adviser, posted the video on Twitter, has gained more than 4.5 million views till now.
The incident came a day after an alleged assassination attempt was carried out on Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. The Kremlin alleged Ukraine was behind the attempt on Putin's life. Two drones were downed by Ukraine in the alleged attack, reported Guardian quoting Russian state news agency RIA.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denied allegations by Russia that his country carried out an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin. The United States has also denied any involvement.
The PABSEC summit was held to discuss ways to develop multilateral and bilateral relations on the economic, technological and social fronts between countries in the Black Sea region. However, the altercation between the two representatives shifted the focus from the summit.
The Black Sea Economic Community was formed over 30 years ago and both Russia and Ukraine are its members. It aims at "working towards peace, stability and prosperity in the Black Sea region."