EDITORIAL: From bad to worse (03/18/01)

EDITORIAL

From bad to worse

On February 4 we editorialized about the ongoing scandal in Ukraine surrounding the Gongadze case and "Tapegate," calling on Ukraine's authorities to conduct a complete and transparent investigation into the entire affair and challenging President Leonid Kuchma to live up to his own words, i.e., that he "will continue to act in line with the law and consistently strengthen democracy in Ukraine."

Exactly one month later, we stated in an editorial that there were signs of regression in Ukraine, as noted in the U.S. State Department's annual report on human rights and underscored by recent actions in Kyiv when police forcefully dismantled the tent city set up on the Khreschatyk, beating and arresting protesters. National Deputy Yurii Karmazyn called the police action the beginning of a new stage in the government's handling of the opposition. Indeed, the use of force found favor with President Kuchma, who hailed the police action just days after he had reassured a U.S. congressional delegation that Ukraine would abide by the rule of law and principles of non-violence, and uphold civil rights. After the destruction of the tent camp, the Kyiv Post editorialized that "Kuchma essentially destroyed the last remaining shred of evidence that he has any respect for democracy." Our conclusion was that Ukraine's course must be reversed, and soon.

Since then, a second tent city was dismantled by the authorities, this time peacefully. But now things have gotten even worse, with violent confrontations in the Ukrainian capital on March 9 - each side blaming the other for provocations. Several leaders of the opposition activists demonstrating that day have said that persons who initiated violent acts were not part of their group. Meanwhile, law enforcement officials who resorted to force say they were compelled to defend themselves as well as government officials and buildings.

In the aftermath of the violence, dozens of young people were arrested - many of them wrongly - as they were pulled off trains and off the streets on their way home from the protest or from a congress of For the Truth, a civic opposition group.

Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko called the March 9 events a dangerous situation, while the human rights ombudsman in Parliament, Nina Karpachova, warned that Ukraine could be on the verge of civil war.

And thus, as the crisis continues, Ukraine continues to make headlines for all the wrong reasons. The only way out is wisely suggested in a resolution introduced in the U.S. Congress: an open investigation into the Gongadze case, respect for the rule of law and democratic freedoms, a genuine dialogue with the opposition, and the use of constitutional means to resolve this annihilative crisis.

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