Turning the pages back... November 30, 2003 (11/28/04)

Turning the pages back...

November 30, 2003

Already a year ago it was clear that Ukraine's presidential campaign would be a dirty one. On November 30, 2003, The Ukrainian Weekly published an analytical article written by Askold Krushelnycky for the RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report which described complaints by Ukraine's largest opposition bloc, Our Ukraine, that the Ukrainian government was disrupting a series of meetings across the country organized to explain the party's platform to potential voters.

"Viktor Yushchenko is the leader of Our Ukraine, a candidate in next year's presidential election, and - according to polls - the country's most popular politician. Mr. Yushchenko and Our Ukraine accuse regional officials of disrupting a rally two weeks ago in the eastern city of Donetsk by packing a previously booked hall with hundreds of anti-Yushchenko demonstrators," Mr. Krushelnycky wrote.

He further noted that Our Ukraine said many of the demonstrators were drunk and voiced allegations that they had been paid to take part. Our Ukraine also reported that police and local officials tried to block the Yushchenko entourage from disembarking from their plane and leaving Donetsk airport. Donetsk Mayor Oleksander Lukianchenko commented only that Our Ukraine had not "coordinated" with Donetsk police to hold the rally.

Mr. Yushchenko told RFE/RL he had a copy of a confidential document, allegedly originating from the office of the presidential administration, that instructed local authorities how to oppose Our Ukraine rallies. The document was similar to instructions alleged to have been distributed by the presidential administration to Ukrainian newspapers, TV and radio. Called "temnyky," the alleged documents instructed the media on how to present the news in order to portray the government in the best light and to besmirch the opposition.

Mr. Yushchenko said one year ago that the government's actions show why Ukrainians need to elect a president who will oversee a government committed to the democratic rights enshrined in the Ukrainian Constitution. "The Constitution does not work in Ukraine and these fundamental rights for [free] assembly and the conduct of meetings, as has been shown in Donetsk, don't work," he said.

Source: Our Ukraine bloc complains of series of campaign disruptions by government," by Askold Krushelnycky, RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report, The Ukrainian Weekly, November 30, 2003, Vol. LXXI, No. 48.

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