At a meeting in Turkey, fights broke out between Russian and Ukrainian delegates

The Ukrainian delegate was offended when the Russian colleague snatched the flag from him

At the meeting of representatives of Russia and Ukraine there was a fight between the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Community.

Tempers flared at the meeting in the Turkish capital Ankara. Both countries are represented by a body that was founded 30 years ago. For three decades, its mission has been to provide «joint support to strengthen cooperation and partnerships in the region.»

However, hopes that the conflict between the two countries could be put aside were dashed when a Russian representative objected to his Ukrainian counterpart waving his country's distinctive yellow and blue flag.

Clutching in one documents in hand, he marched through the foyer, plucked the flag and quickly marched away. The representative of Ukraine objected and gave chase.

Striking blows, he pulled the flag back. He was restrained by others present, who begged «not to fight». Someone out of the camera's field of view shouted, «That's our flag.» At the same event, members of the Ukrainian delegation stormed the rally and unfurled their flag as the Russian delegate spoke.

Tensions flared when Ola Timofeeva, State Duma deputy from the United Russia party, addressed the delegates.

Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop interrupted the meeting and expelled the Ukrainians. He said that everyone can express their opinion orally.

"There is nothing wrong with that. If attempts are made to hold rallies, the site of today's rally will cease to be a parliamentary event and turn into a street movement.” he said.

According to the agenda, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss: “The role of parliamentary diplomacy in the context of global changes: development, peace, stability.”