Ukraine’s parliament voted to fire the government today over President Viktor Yushchenko’s gas accord with Russia, as divisions persist about the nation’s ties to its former Soviet partner a year after the Orange Revolution.

The vote raises the possibility of a constitutional crisis in Ukraine, the main gateway for Russian gas shipments to Europe, before March 26 parliamentary elections. Yushchenko, who is on a visit to Kazakhstan, said the decision contradicts the constitution and the government said it will challenge it.

“We fired the government because it signed an unclear agreement which undermines Ukraine’s independence and national interests,” said Andriy Shkil, one of the lawmakers that approved the firing. ~Bloomberg

Mr. Shkil can play the nationalist if he wants, but he and his colleagues have just voted in rebellion against the sort of deal that will, in time, wean Ukraine away from Russian gas. He has just voted in favour of virtually permanent Russian control of the source of Ukraine’s energy. And now, in an amusing turnabout, it is Yushchenko’s turn to invoke the constitution and complain that the MPs are breaking the law! The good news is that Yushchenko has been undermined and his “revolution” will be buried and forgotten–by the representatives of “the people,” no less!