Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov posted a four-mintue video recording of his heated argument with Odesa Oblast governor Mikheil Saakashvili at the Dec. 14 session of the National Council of Reforms.
Avakov threw a glass that contained water at
Saakashvili when the ex-Georgian president called him a “thief.”
The scandal erupted during a discussion of the
Odesa Portside Plant, a major state-owned chemical producer whose sale the
government has postponed numerous times. It recently has been at the center of
numerous corruption allegations.
After President Petro Poroshenko refused to
publish the video, however, Avakov uploaded the footage documenting the
insulting tussle on his Facebook page on Dec. 16 after his request to the
Presidential Administration was rebuffed.
“Hiding truth is shameful,” Avakov said in his
post.
On Dec. 15, Poroshenko issued a statement,
saying that he “cannot keep silent about the infamous incident” at the
council, which is made up of many of the nation’s top political leaders.
“The discussion at this platform often becomes
tough and heated. … But coarse language and insults are inadmissible at the
National Council of Reforms,” Poroshenko said in the statement. “Especially
with xenophobic overtones that affect national dignity, call into question
Ukrainian patriotism and offer somebody to ‘get out of Ukraine.’”
Poroshenko added that he invited an
international team of reformers to Ukraine, which has already become a “truly
Ukrainian team not only in terms of passports, but also in terms of spirit.”
In his post, Avakov reacted to Poroshenko’s
comment, saying he was “astonished.”
“Whom are you accusing of being a xenophobe?
Me? An Armenian who has since he was three years old lived in Ukraine? I should
know. What bureaucrat gave you this frame of response?… Is that what you’re
telling me? Me? Who was beaten on
Institutska Street?.. On Dec. 10 we together held the Berkut on the Maidan,
together with Ukrainians, Ukrainian Belarusians, Armenians, Georgians, Jews –
or was it not this way, you (the president) weren’t with me?” reads Avakov’s
post.
The following is a transcript of the video posted by
Avakov.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov posted a video recording of his heated argument with Odesa Oblast governor Mikheil Saakashvili at the Dec. 14 session of the National Council of Reforms in Kyiv.
Avakov: “Mikhail Nikolozovich, I’m reacting to what
you said. I made some notes. I listened closely to what you said and to the
resume of what was at the Anti-Corruption Forum. Now you are not speaking as
tough as you did there. I don’t get it. You said that the Cabinet of Ministers
leads the corruption. You said it clearly and without proof.
Saakashvili (interrupting): There is proof, there is
proof…
Avakov: Let me finish and then you’ll speak…
Saakashvili: I said it with proof and
I will have more proof. And I will present them…
Avakov: Mr. President, are we going to maintain order
here?
Saakashvili: … your friend, bandit
(Mykola) Martynenko…
Avakov: When you’re speaking, it’s like
blah-blah-blah.
Saakashvili: Blah-blah-blah? No one
talks to me like that!
Avakov: I will talk to you like that.
Saakashvili: I don’t care how you
will talk to me.
Avakov: Then go the hell out of here.
Saakashvili: I’m calling on you to be
polite. Unlike you, I don’t have millions or billions.
Avakov: It’s not for you that I’m speaking here. You
will respond for your billions in a different place.
Saakashvili: Russia looked for my
billions too. Look for them well! Look well!
Poroshenko: Mikhail! Everyone stop
now…
Saakashvili: …and a corrupt minister
will not speak treason.
Avakov: Shut your mouth, you f*cking corrupt
governor.
Saakashvili: What?
Avakov: You heard me, thief. F*ck!
Poroshenko: Arsen Borisovych, could
you not swear?
Avakov: There was no swearing.
Poroshenko: There was. Arseniy
Petrovych, I’m asking you to speak now.
Avakov: I want to finish.
Poroshenko: Fine. Please, speak
about facts, don’t comment on the speeches.
Avakov: Speaking of all the things that were said… Of
course, there should be privatization. Including privatization of Odesa Port
Plant. We need to bring it all to the light as much as we can and privatize the
whole Odesa Port Plant. But I have a question. Mr. Saakashvili, are you or are
you not preventing the privatization of Odesa Port Plant?
Saakashvili: I’m not going to discuss
anything after the way you spoke. After what you said, I will have only a
public discussion with you. I will prove that you are a thief. And I’ll prove
that the Cabinet of Ministers heads the corruption. I’ll never let this
(happen)… I don’t have money – unlike you (Avakov) but I have a conscience and
reputation. And I won’t let some Avakov – who’s caught
stealing, and who – everyone knows that
– is managing schemes… talk to Saakashvili in (insulting) tone. The country knows
that he’s a thief.
(Avakov throws a glass at Saakashvili)
Poroshenko: Arsen!..
Avakov (to Saakashvili): Scum!
Poroshenko: I’m closing the session.
Avakov (to
Saakashvili): Bastard!
Saakashvili: Thief!
Avakov: Sure, a thief…
Saakashvili: And (such people) like
you would be in prison. Because Ukraine should be a successful country…
Avakov: You’ve already pushed your country to the
limit. Get out of my country!
Saakashvili: Out of your country? I’m
Ukrainian, by the way.
Avakov: I’m also Ukrainian.
Saakashvili: No! I’m Ukrainian. And
you’re a thief.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk (to Saakashvili): And you’re a clown…
Avakov (to Saakashvili): You’re a f*cking cirques
perfomer, bitch.
Yatsenyuk (to Saakashvili): You’re a visiting
performer and a blabbermouth! You were invited to the country to do something
rather than go into political speculation…
Avakov (to
Saakashvili): Bullshitter…
Poroshenko: Arseniy, enough!
Saakashvili: You’re insulting.
Ukraine, you’re insulting member of parliament and Ukrainian nation and you
will respond for it…
Poroshenko: Done. Everyone’s
free.
