Ukraine's Crisis

The Washington Post ^ | November 25, 2004 | Masthead Editorial

[neverdem]

FACED WITH extraordinary demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of citizens demanding democracy, Ukraine's corrupt and thuggish government wavered this week, hinting that it might be willing to negotiate about the outcome of the presidential election that took place Sunday. Yet yesterday its official electoral commission ratified the fraudulent result that brought those crowds into the streets of the capital: It declared that Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych had won despite abundant evidence to the contrary. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell rightly responded that the United States "cannot accept this result as legitimate" and "stands with the people of Ukraine and their effort to ensure their democratic choice." In the coming days the United States and its European allies must follow up on those words by demanding that the Ukrainian authorities -- and their backers in Moscow -- listen to, rather than repress, the majority that now seeks to prevent their country from becoming an authoritarian state.

Some have described the crisis in Ukraine as a contest for influence between Russia and the West, with the West backing opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko in the same measure that Russian President Vladimir Putin has supported the official candidate. That is a gross distortion. For the Ukrainians who have spent four freezing nights in the streets of Kiev, the fight is not about geopolitical orientation -- most favor close relations with Moscow -- but about whether theirs will be a free country, with an independent press and courts and leaders who are chosen by genuine democratic vote. Mr. Putin, who has channeled hundreds of millions of dollars into the prime minister's campaign, is backing the imposition of an authoritarian system along the lines of the one he is creating in Russia -- with a propagandistic regime, controlled media, official persecution of dissent, business executives....

[Rocky Mountain Mama]

Thanks very much for the ping, struwwelpeter. I have had a busy last two days with company for Thanksgiving, but I hope to get caught up on the threads this weekend. Still praying for the Ukrainians, please join me everyone.

[Askel5]

--- It's no fun to live in interesting times.


It's tricky, that's all. Enough distance to keep some sense of humor but close enough to remain true to genuine Hope (if not Optimism...two very different animals).

Am keeping them all in my prayers.