Ukrainian Parliamentarians Want Gas Deal With Russia Overturned

(RFE/RL) KYIV, 19 January 2006 -- Ukraine's parliament voted today to demand the cancellation of a recent deal with Russia that sees Ukraine paying higher prices for Russian gas.

Parliament also voted to dismiss officials linked to the deal. Fuel and Energy Minister Ivan Plachkov was dismissed. So was Justice Minister Serhiy Holovatyy.

Today's resolution comes about a week after it voted to sack the government over the deal, which President Viktor Yushchenko says was illegal. It's not immediately clear what the legal implications of the resolution are.

Yushchenko has previously said that he would honor the gas deal with Russia, which was signed on 4 January.

(AP, Reuters, Interfax )