Twenty-six people were injured in a brawl between pro-Russia protesters and Crimean Tatars in Simferopol, the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in southern Ukraine, on Wednesday.
The clash came amid uncertainty over the peninsula's allegiances, as Crimea’s parliament cancelled a meeting to discuss the political situation.
The Crimean Parliament had decided on an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, after parliament head, Vladimir Konstantinov's statement that said "Crimea's independence from Ukraine may come onto the agenda."
There were moments of heated tension, as demonstrators from the two groups exchanged blows leaving 26 people injured. The police increased its presence in the area and cordoned off the entrance to the parliament.
Most Tatars were seen leaving, while pro-Russia group remained.
Pro and anti-Russia groups met for the first time in front of the Parliament building on Wednesday, where the former have been holding rallies since Sunday, voicing their support to split Crimea from Ukraine and join Russia.
Crimea's Tatar National Parliament Chairman, Rifat Cubarov said on Wednesday that the Tatar MPs stand against provocation within the Parliament.
He said 49 MPs, who had gathered to hold a parliamentary meeting before it was cancelled on Wednesday, had declared that they were siding with Ukraine’s government, against Crimea's secession.
Cubarov put the number of Crimean Tatars who gathered in front of the Parliament building on Wednesday at 15-20,000.
The political situation in Crimea has been uncertain since Ukraine was hit by large-scale protests that led to the end of the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych. The ousted President’s policies to move the country closer to Russia encountered popular opposition after he scrapped a major trade and association deal with the European Union in November last year.
Russia, Ukraine's historical ally, maintains a sizable military presence in the Crimean peninsula.
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