The crisis overshadowed Thursday's EU-Russia summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, said it should be solved through the courts. The EU said the election was fraudulent.
Posted on 11/25/2004 11:44:52 AM PST by anonymoussierra
Ukraine's Supreme Court has suspended publication of the presidential election result until it considers the opposition's complaints next week. Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko appealed to the court after election officials declared Viktor Yanukovych winner of a poll widely seen as rigged.
Mr Yushchenko said he had formed an emergency committee, which observers say could be an alternative government.
Thousands of his supporters also plan to blockade key buildings in Kiev.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mr Yushchenko's campaign chief, said a Committee of National Salvation was being set up to "defend the constitution".
He added that Mr Yushchenko had also ordered the creation of a people's self-defence force - the "Ukrainian Guard".
A leading Yushchenko ally, Yuliya Tymoshenko, has urged Kiev demonstrators to block off the parliament, government buildings and the presidential administration.
She said government workers would be on a "forced strike", but said there should be no violence.
'Just the beginning'
Court spokeswoman Liana Shlyaposhnikova told AFP news agency: "Until we have finished examining the appeal, the results of the election cannot be published.
"Until we have reached a decision, the election result cannot be valid."
The court is scheduled to examine the appeal on Monday, the spokeswoman added.
Click here to see a regional breakdown of the official results Mr Yushchenko announced the court decision to a rally of thousands on Kiev's main square.
"This is only the beginning - it is proof that it is society that always wins," he declared to wild cheering.
Serhiy Tihipko, an aide to Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, said that the court did not have the right to cancel the election result and he saw "no justification" for the result to be suspended.
According to the official election result released on Wednesday, Mr Yanukovych won with 49.46% of the vote against Mr Yushchenko's 46.61%.
Strike split
Mr Yushchenko's supporters say the authorities oversaw massive fraud in Sunday's election - and independent observers have also reported widespread abuses.
Since the strike call, reports speak of major traffic jams on Ukraine's western border where several main roads have been blocked, and some factories and universities are said to have stopped work.
However, coalminers in the east of the country, where Mr Yanukovych's strength lies, have vowed to work on.
Some analysts say the strike could further divide the country as Mr Yushchenko draws his support mainly from western and central regions.
Government supporters including several thousand miners have been holding rallies in Kiev but the capital is still dominated by Mr Yushchenko's supporters.
They have been camping out in Independence Square in freezing temperatures under orange banners.
'Enforced bias'
Ukraine's second national television channel, One plus One, appears to have dropped the government line and begun broadcasting pictures of the demonstrations in Kiev.
The TV company said it had been forced to broadcast biased information but from now on it would be fair and balanced.
"These principles will be adhered to as long as the channel is on the air," a presenter said before a news bulletin.
Leonid Kuchma, the incumbent president and an ally of Mr Yanukovych, has asked Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, with whom he has close ties, and the Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus to mediate in the crisis.
Lech Walesa, a former Polish president and ally of Mr Yushchenko, has already gone to Kiev to try to help to resolve the crisis, saying he believes a compromise is possible
The crisis overshadowed Thursday's EU-Russia summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, said it should be solved through the courts. The EU said the election was fraudulent.
The Supreme Court attempts to assert itself as the final arbiter of all matters of government. Superior to all other branches of government.
But if it rules in favor of Yu and against Yank, the Russian backed Yank government will dissolve the Supreme Court and proceed to oppress the people.
Solution? Rule in favor of Yank and the Russians. They claim authority to rule by virtue of the final arbiter Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court is forever enshrined as the ultimate authority in the Ukraine.
See Marbury v. Madison for further details.
Thank you
BTTT
Strange -- the EU and the US are going to be coming together on this, it appears.
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
What's so strange about it? The EU and the US still agree on far more than they disagree on, even if a high-profile recent event has obscured that..
France seems to muddy the waters too much, I guess.
you know whats interesting, many people in this country complain that the electoral college doesnt work. all you have to do is compare the ukrainian election to ours and realize how genius the EC really is. if ukraine had an EC this election wouldnt be a problem.
this is well what you write Thank you
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