Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe KIEV, Ukraine, March 20 (UPI) -- Punches were thrown on the floor of the Ukrainian Parliament when some lawmakers took exception a colleague delivering a speech in Russian. The fight started Tuesday when Oleksandr Yefremov, the parliamentary leader of President Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions, gave a speech in Russian, leading members of the opposition Svoboda party to heckle, boo and demand he speak in Ukrainian, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported Wednesday, Advertisement Yefremov, who was surrounded by supporters as he spoke, called the hecklers "neo-fascists." The fighting erupted when Regions party members chanted "fascist" at Svoboda leader Oleh Tiahnybok, who was the next speaker, Kyiv Post/Interfax-Ukraine reported. Parliamentary Chairman Volodymyr Rybak announced a break and urged the brawling lawmakers to calm down and leave the room. The fighting ceased and the lawmakers remained in the room.
