MOSCOW, April 14. /TASS/. The Russian State Duma lower house of parliament does not expect that the election of Andrei Parubiy as new speaker of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament) will bring any positive changes in relations between Moscow and Kiev, deputy chief of the Duma staff, head of Duma public relations department Denis Molchanov said on Thursday.

"The State Duma believes that today's election of Andrei Parubiy as chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will not contribute to any normalization of relations between the parliaments of our countries or normalization of relations between Russia and Ukraine as a whole. We know very well the views and biography of Mr. Parubiy, primarily his active role in Ukraine’s coup", Molchanov told reporters.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appointed Andrei Parubiy, formerly the first deputy speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, as the Verkhovna Rada chairman. A total of 284 MPs voted in favor of the decision, above the required minimum of 226 votes. Parubiy said it was a great honor and responsibility for him. He said he would not make loud promises, but intended to show by his work that the parliament will remain a key place for making decisions.

The parliament earlier backed the resignation of parliament speaker Vladimir Groysman who was elected as Ukraine’s new prime minister.