Turkmen authorities filed complaints with the Ukrainian government after several exiled opposition leaders visited Kiev in late December, reportedly at the invitation of Transport and Communications Minister Mykola Rudkovskiy.
Highlighting a growing rift between political factions in the ex-Soviet state, Anatoliy Kinakh, a member of the pro-presidential party Our Ukraine, said: "The events that took place show that the lack of coordination between branches of power and growing political tensions lead to chaotic and uncoordinated foreign policy decisions."
Turkmen opposition leaders, including presidential candidate Khudaiberdy Orazov, gave a news conference in the Ukrainian capital speaking out about the situation in the country following the death of its longtime authoritarian leader, Saparmurat Niyazov.
President Viktor Yushchenko sacked his ambassador to Austria Tuesday for helping the opposition leaders obtain visas, and demanded the dismissal of Rudkovsky, a member of the Socialist Party that is part of a government coalition led by the Western-leaning president's opponent, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.
Rudkovsky had reportedly approached Ukrainian embassies in several countries privately asking them to process visas for the Turkmen oppositionists, who Turkmenistan claimed were on the international wanted list.
Yanukovych said Tuesday the government had no reasons to fire the transport minister, but later ordered a probe into the visa scandal.
The lawmaker said irresponsible decisions could damage Ukraine's relations with Turkmenistan, including in the energy sector.
Turkmenistan is a core natural gas supplier for Ukraine, which has moved to step up relations with the country since a bitter pricing row with Russia at the start of last year.
"It is necessary to investigate [the affair] with no regard for names, positions and political affiliations." Kinakh said. "Those who took the irresponsible steps, turning a blind eye to the country's national strategic interests, must be held accountable."
