MINSK, April 2 (RIA Novosti) - Ultranationalism is at the root of the political turmoil in Ukraine, a senior Belarusian lawmaker said Wednesday.
"In just two months Ukraine plunged into chaos. The country is torn apart by irreconcilable contradictions and is almost lawless. The people are struggling, they don't have any confidence in the future. We are especially worried about the nationalistic attitude of part of the population, particularly younger people," said Anatoly Rubinov, speaker of Council of the Republic of Belarus at the opening of a parliamentary session in Minsk.
"I believe that it is unrestrained nationalism and attempts to humiliate the Russian-speaking population, treating them as second-class citizens, banning the Russian language - these are at the root of all of Ukraine's troubles today," added the Belarusian speaker.
On February 22, a regime change resembling a military coup took place in Ukraine. The Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, ousted President Victor Yanukovich, changed the constitution and announced early presidential elections for May 25. Yanukovich claims that he was forced to flee the country under threats to his personal safety but remains the legally elected head of state.
Moscow believes has contested the legitimacy of the Rada's actions. On March 16 a referendum on the status of the autonomous republic of Crimea was held, with more than 96 percent of region's citizens voting for reunification with Russia.
