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Russian Foreign Ministry comments on Ukraine's Saakashvili-Avakov row

A conflict between Avakov and Saakashvili took place on Monday at a meeting of the national reform council that was attended by President Petro Poroshenko

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Artyom Korotayev/TASS

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

© Artyom Korotayev/TASS

MOSCOW, December 17. /TASS/. One can only wonder how Donbas can speak with Kiev when it cannot find common language within its government, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

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"I feel sorry for the Russian language which is banned at schools and universities but is used by ministers and governors to hurl insults," she wrote on her Facebook account commenting on the recent quarrel between Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and Odessa region governor Mikheil Saakashvili. "It is appalling, since if such things happen during official meetings, what can be expected from society? It is extremely polarized. The next stage will be its further radicalization."

"How is the multi-ethnic Ukraine going to live in such conditions, if even a committed fan of the current Kiev authorities, they [these authorities] are shouting: "Get out of my country!" Let alone Russian-speakers in Donbas. What will be the fate for them, who cannot boast loyally, within Ukraine ruled by such people?," she said.

A conflict between Avakov and Saakashvili took place on Monday at a meeting of the national reform council that was attended by President Petro Poroshenko. After a verbal exchange, Avakov threw a glass with water at Saakashvili. The two reportedly used foul language. Later, Poroshenko took sides with the Odessa region governor and asked the interior minister to "refrain from xenophobia."

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Ukraine crisis Foreign policy

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