Posted on 11/11/2004 1:53:51 PM PST by Lukasz
KIEV, Ukraine — Liberal Viktor Yushchenko scored a symbolic victory in Ukraine's presidential election, coming out narrowly on top in the first round ahead of the establishment's candidate he will face in a runoff.
Official results announced yesterday — after 10 days of counting — put the reform-minded Yushchenko about 150,000 votes ahead, with 39.87 percent. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, backed by Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma and powerful neighbor Russia, won 39.32 percent in the tense opening round.
The vote is seen as a key test of democracy in the nation of 48 million people and as an indicator of what direction Ukrainians will choose for their nation, which has cultivated ties with the West and Russia.
Ukraine, which has a brigade of troops in Iraq and is one of the top recipients of U.S. aid, also has shown strong economic growth, primarily in heavy industry, after years of post-Soviet economic chaos.
Both candidates fell short of 50 percent in a field of 24, meaning the election goes to a Nov. 21 showdown, which may determine the future orientation of the second-largest former Soviet state.
Yushchenko has alleged the first round was tainted by mass fraud and ridiculed election officials for delays in reporting the outcome. Western monitors said the first round fell short of accepted standards and have demanded action to correct shortcomings, mainly media bias and incomplete lists that resulted in more than 1 million voters being turned away from polling stations.
The election also exposed a centuries-old divide in Ukraine.
The nationalist west, once part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, backs the challenger along with central Ukraine. The Russian-speaking industrial east is solidly behind the prime minister.
Yushchenko has drawn large crowds in the capital, Kiev, with 40,000 supporters last week donning scarves and headbands in his trademark orange or decorating cars in orange bunting.
He is seen by many as likely to push for closer ties with the European Union and NATO.
His campaign manager was in Moscow yesterday, presumably with the aim of assuring officials the challenger's victory would mean no change in traditionally close links with Russia.
Yanukovich has shied away from big rallies but basked in a first-round endorsement of his policies by visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He initially said he wanted no part of television debates ahead of the runoff, but his team says he is reconsidering.
Pro-government television channels show the prime minister's every move and quote him at length, leaving a sole opposition station to report on Yushchenko's activities.
Socialist Moroz said that he support Yushchenko, communist Symonenko said that his voters shouldn’t vote for anyone (but probably most of then will vote for Yanukovych). I heard that one of the candidates with electorate around 1% also support Yushchenko.
Look like if Kuchma administration don’t falsify this elections, Yushchenko should win this contest.
the only country of the former Soviet Union beside of Baltic states
the Baltic!! :-)
Also, they have gotten their religion back; St. Mikhail stands on his plinth in the center of Kiev.
They are dealing with a lot of corruption, and street crime, but they are making progress.
Interesting note: many Ukrainians pretend that they do not speak Russian;even though it is taught in all schools from an early age.
regards,
After I tried to set my friend straight on Bush and Soros, she has gone silent on politics.
In the other words, you are telling that you would sell one of your allies in Iraq to have better relations with Russia? Sounds like Roosevelt and Yalta.
funny stuff, "Moroz" means "frost"?
in polish is "mróz"
It is Machiavelli logic?
If you like his logic then you are dangerous for your friends, family etc. No one knows what plans you have in your head. If you would be a president of the US, all allies should leave you immediately…
...nas seychas predvybornaya bol'ba nakalen. Narod neehlektrizovan, t.k. vlast' vybory sfabrikovala, postaviv server v administratsii prezidenta i ottuda upravlyala TsVK. Predstavlyaesh'? Strana skazochnykh geroev."...the pre-election fight has heated up. The people are not electrified, since the government has fabricated the elections, after placing the server in the president's administration and from there they govern the TsVK (??). Can you imagine? A nation of fairytale heroes."
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