Tarasyuk Barred From Cabinet Meeting
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk (file photo) (epa)
A Kyiv district court on December 5 reversed parliament's decision to dismiss Tarasyuk on the grounds that it violated Ukrainian law.
Yushchenko then issued a presidential decree saying Tarasyuk would keep his job.
Tarasyuk is a pro-Western politician and an ally of Yushchenko.
Tarasyuk told RFE/RL's Ukrainian service today that he was confronted by a cabinet official, Anatoliy Tolstoukhov, and told he had no right to take part in the meeting "even though I showed them the court decision and the presidential decree."
Tarasyuk called the decision "outrageous" and said he will "press for my rights as a cabinet member to be upheld."
Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, on a visit to Washington, said on December 5 that it was "irresponsible" to try to overturn a decision by parliament.