The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine failed to extend a moratorium on purchase or sale of farmland at its meeting on Tuesday.

Only 184 of the 345 MPs registered for voting supported the bill proposing the moratorium on buying or sale of farmland should be valid until the law on the trade in farmland comes into force.

Lawmakers also dismissed all amendments suggesting extension of a moratorium on the sale of farmland until January 1, 2015 or January 1, 2016.

This situation caused indignation among members of the BYT-Batkivschyna, Our Ukraine and the Communist Party factions. Vice Speaker Mykola Tomenko of the BYT-Batkivschyna faction suggested that the Regions Party factions would endeavor to submit the law on the trade in farmland to parliament by January 1, 2013 and adopt it in February, so that the trade in farmland could start by April 1, 2013.

According to the current version of the Land Code of Ukraine, the moratorium on the purchase and sale of farmland is valid until January 1, 2013.