The Kremlin demonstrates its support of Yanukovych (10/24/04)

The Kremlin demonstrates its support of Yanukovych

by Maryna Makhnonos and Bogdana Vasylenko
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

MOSCOW, Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin used his birthday as informal reason to demonstrate his unconditional support for Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych by inviting him and Ukraineís President Leonid Kuchma to his residence in Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow on October 9. Some political scientists said the Kremlinís obvious benevolence toward Mr. Yanukovych may diminish his chances to win presidential elections in the end of this month, because it may irritate Ukrainian voters instead of stimulating of their sympathies.

The fact that Mr. Yanukovych arrived to greet President Putin on his birthday, which passed some time ago, during the peak of his presidential campaign shows how strongly Moscow's political elite wishes him to become President Kuchmaís successor. Despite the fact that Ukraine's president has greater importance than the prime minister, what Russian media outlets covered was Mr. Yanukovych's visit, not Mr. Kuchma's. Russian TV channels showed Mr. Yanukovych at an ethnic Ukrainians' forum the day before meeting with Mr. Putin, broadcast parts of his speech, and carried stories featuring his gestures and quotes with Mr. Kuchma seen only in the background. Posters with Mr. Yanukovych's portrait appeared in some places in Moscow on the eve of the prime minister's visit.

Also, Mr. Yanukovych took a very unusual step during a meeting with President Putin, that was widely covered in all media: he entered the hall after President Putin and sat in the chair to the left of him, neglecting protocol rules. According to etiquette, the prime minister was to sit next to his president, i.e., next to Mr. Kuchma and across from Mr. Putin and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. Journalists noticed that Mr. Yanukovych hesitated before choosing the seat and were totally silent when they found him next to Mr. Putin. It was unclear whether Mr. Yanukovych ignored the protocol by mistake or by choice.

Mr. Kuchma tried to discharge the awkward pause in air, joking that "a change of terms doesnít affect the sum," and Mr. Putin supported this idea by modestly saying "I hope." These incidents were good reason for the local media to publish a great variety of stories with one only conclusion: Moscow has placed its bets on Mr. Yanukovych and provides him with the strongest support possible three weeks before the nationwide vote in Ukraine.

However, some political experts say the Kremlin endangers Mr. Yanukovych's victory by demonstrating such obvious sympathy toward him. The president of the Moscow-based Institute of National Strategy, Stanislav Belkovsky, said a similar situation took place in Abkhazia, where Moscow's favorite candidate lost and the people of Abkhazia chose the opposition leader.

"The same result may happen in Ukraine," Mr. Belkovsky told a news conference in Moscow on October 12. "Russia should hush its fervor and administrative desire to support Mr. Yanukovych directly, it should do this more delicately if it would like not to harm his pre-election path to presidency."

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