Parliament voted last Friday to fire Borys Tarasyuk, a key supporter of President Viktor Yushchenko, in a move that further widened a rift between Western-leaning pro-presidential forces and the pro-Russian governing coalition, which have unsuccessfully sought to forge a national unity government.
Yushchenko's December 5 decree "was issued by the president in breach of powers assigned to him by Ukraine's Constitution, and violates the Constitution," the ministry said in an official document calling on the head of state to withdraw the decree.
Justice Minister Oleksandr Lavrynovych said Wednesday that lawmakers' dismissal of the foreign minister was constitutional, and in line with parliamentary powers.
Speaking at a news conference, Lavrynovych said: "Tarasyuk was dismissed in full compliance with constitutional norms and the Rada's regulations."
But Tarasyuk, who has been a leading proponent of Yushchenko's bid to join NATO and the European Union, said on Tuesday that a court in Kiev had blocked the parliamentary decision, and called it illegitimate.
Yushchenko ordered the minister to remain in office later in the day, saying parliament, the Supreme Rada, had no right to fire president-appointed ministers. Under Ukrainian law, the president appoints the ministers of foreign affairs and defense.
Adam Martynyuk, Supreme Rada first deputy chairman, cast doubt Wednesday over the legality of the court's ruling against the dismissal.
"I would say the decision of the district court was made with cynical violations of due proceedings," he said, adding that Ukrainian lawmakers did not attend the court session.
President-appointed Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko was also sacked by parliament on December 1, in line with a request from the governing coalition led pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.
