ELECTION WATCH

PM takes leave in order to campaign

KYIV - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych told Ukrainian journalists on December 6 that he is taking leave to campaign for a rerun of the November 21 presidential run-off which is to be held on December 26, the Ukrainska Pravda website (http://www2.pravda.com.ua) reported. "The only thing I ask the president, the Verkhovna Rada and people's deputies, is to allow the current government to work until the end of the election," Mr. Yanukovych said. Under Ukraine's Labor Code, the dismissal of a state employee is prohibited when she or he is on sick leave or vacation. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma approves PM's leave

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma on December 7 signed a decree allowing Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych to go on leave to campaign for the rerun presidential election on December 26, Ukrainian media reported. This effectively defies the Verkhovna Rada's vote of no confidence in Mr. Yanukovych's Cabinet on December 1. President Kuchma also appointed First Vice Prime Minister Mykola Azarov as acting head of the Cabinet. Mr. Yanukovych has reportedly left Kyiv for his native region of Donbas to meet with voters there. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Russian spin doctors leave Ukraine

MOSCOW - A team of Russian public-relations consultants and campaign strategists that worked on the presidential campaign of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych is returning to Russia as their services are reportedly no longer desired, Trud reported on December 8. "We welcome advice, but all major decisions will be made by Viktor Yanukovych and his team," Yanukovych campaign manager Taras Chornovil said, according to strana.ru on December 7. Gleb Pavlovskii and Marat Gelman headed the team. Meanwhile, Political Research Institute Director Sergei Markov, who also advised the Yanukovych presidential campaign, said that the Russian consultants are not to blame for the loss of Russian prestige in Ukraine, TV-Tsentr reported on December 6. "Russian spin doctors remain among the best in the world," he said. "We were there to prepare an election, not a revolution." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko has 56 percent support

KYIV - Fifty-six percent of those Ukrainians who will vote in the country's December 26 presidential run-off election plan to support democratic opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, while 40 percent plan to vote for incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, a Razumkov Center for Economic and Political Studies opinion poll shows. The Razumkov Center surveyed 2,013 respondents throughout Ukraine during the period November 25-29. In the repeat run-off mandated by the Supreme Court last Friday, 4 percent of those planning to vote will cast their ballot against both candidates. The poll's margin of error was 2 to 3 percent. During the past three weeks, the gap between Yushchenko and Yanukovych supporters has widened by 8 percent. A Razumkov opinion poll conducted two weeks before the November 21 run-off (November 3-7) showed the gap between Messrs. Yushchenko and Yanukovych at 8 percent. Then 54 percent planned to vote for Mr. Yushchenko, while 46 percent supported Mr. Yanukovych. The current poll gives Yushchenko a 16 percent lead over Mr. Yanukovych. (Our Ukraine Update)

Putin cautions West on "meddling"

ANKARA - In his first public reaction to the Ukrainian Supreme Court's December 3 decision to nullify the second round of Ukraine's presidential election, President Vladimir Putin, at a December 6 press conference in Ankara, Turkey, told journalists that he considers Western support for the "orange revolution" in Kyiv to be "intolerable," RTR and other media reported. "One can play the role of a mediator but one must not meddle and apply pressure. Only the people of any country - and this includes Ukraine in the full sense - can decide their fate," Mr. Putin said. He suggested that Western meddling in Ukrainian affairs will create "new divisions in Europe." "I don't want, as in Germany, for us to divide Europe into westerners and easterners, into first-class and second-class people," the Russian president said. He also said that Russia is openly and correctly working with Ukraine's government. "Of course we will ... accept the will of any nation in the former Soviet space and will work with any elected leader," Mr. Putin concluded. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Putin slams Yushchenko's remarks

ANKARA - President Vladimir Putin on December 6 criticized recent comments made by Ukrainian opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko, who said that he was prepared to use force if necessary to take power in Ukraine. In comments made to Britain's Sunday Telegraph on December 5, Mr. Yushchenko said that "if the old regime tries to interfere in any way and tries to defy the will of the people and of Parliament, we will simply storm our way into the Cabinet office. This is what people want." In response, Mr. Putin said that it is completely unacceptable to make threats that leave people with no choice. "When a political leader says that 'whatever happens, whatever the result of the elections, we will take power, including by force,' this is not just pressure, it is intimidation of the people," the Russian president said. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yulia says Putin wrong to criticize

KYIV - Yulia Tymoshenko, a prominent Ukrainian opposition leader, told Nezavisimaya Gazeta on December 7 that President Vladimir Putin's recent criticism of the Ukrainian opposition is based on the incorrect perception that "the personality of the future Ukrainian president will define the strategic vector of Ukrainian foreign policy." According to Ms. Tymoshenko, Mr. Putin thinks that only presidential candidate and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych will cooperate with Russia and the CIS. "Regardless of who is elected Ukrainian president, relations between Russia and Ukraine will be warm and friendly," she said. The difference, she added, is that if Viktor Yushchenko is president, these relations will not be based on clan politics and behind-the-scenes deals. "Very soon, Putin will realize that it is better to cooperate with a democratic Ukraine, which will be a more reliable and predictable partner," Ms. Tymoshenko said. (RFE/RL Newsline)

PM distances himself from Kuchma

KYIV - Presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych on December 6 seemed to disassociate himself from President Leonid Kuchma. "My opponents are using a propagandistic stereotype [by referring to] the Kuchma-Yanukovych regime," he told journalists. In fact, Mr. Yanukovych revealed, he was forced to make compromises with the presidency and "restrain his emotions" because, he added, he wanted to procure an "economic wonder" for all of Ukraine as he did in the Donetsk region when he was governor there in 2002. "I can say openly that two types of state power have existed in our country for the last two years - old power and new power," Mr. Yanukovych said. "So our citizens should make their own conclusions as to whether Yanukovych is a candidate of the new power or the old power. I am sure that [Viktor] Yushchenko represents an attempt by the old power to seek revenge." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Putin and Kuchma confer by phone

MOSCOW - While Russia did not respond officially to the landmark Ukrainian Supreme Court verdict of December 3 or plans to hold a new presidential runoff, President Vladimir Putin's press service announced that he discussed the situation in Ukraine with President Leonid Kuchma by telephone on December 4, utro.ru reported. The announcement did not include details of their conversation but said Mr. Putin told his outgoing Ukrainian counterpart that as part of the international mediating effort, Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov will attend negotiations aimed at paving the way to new balloting. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Duma speaker comments on crisis

ST. PETERSBURG - Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov said on December 4 that the Ukrainian Supreme Court ruling ordering a repeat of the presidential run-off election was unlikely to resolve the country's political crisis, Russian and international news agencies reported the same day. "The elections in Ukraine have shown that society in that country is split right down the middle, and the Supreme Court's decision in favor of the loser is unlikely to remedy everything and immediately," Interfax quoted Mr. Gryzlov as saying in St. Petersburg. "The presidential election has uncovered too many internal problems, and we are now dealing not with a settlement of the political crisis but with a search for ways to settle it." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Duma leader warns of tensions

MOSCOW - Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee, said the Ukrainian court's decision was "politically unfortunate" and does not ease tensions in that country, ITAR-TASS reported on December 4. "The participation of the same candidates in the revote will not bring the desired calm to Ukraine, and a considerable number of people will be displeased with the results. Therefore, the danger of confrontation and even a split will remain," Mr. Kosachev said, adding, "It would be preferable to hold a new election with new candidates." He said, nevertheless, that "the Supreme Court in this situation is the only body that is empowered to make the decision, and any decision should be implemented unconditionally." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Rift between Our Ukraine, Socialists?

KYIV - The Verkhovna Rada on December 4 failed to agree on changing the presidential election law to prevent vote rigging and amending the Constitution of Ukraine to cut the president's powers in favor of the prime minister and the Parliament, Ukrainian and international news agencies reported. The failure was a result of the refusal by Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine caucus to vote on both measures at once. The introduction of constitutional reform was the main condition under which Socialist Party leader Oleksander Moroz supported Mr. Yushchenko's presidential bid following the first election round on October 31. "This means that there may not be changes to the Constitution and our monarchist form of rule will continue," Mr. Moroz said on December 4. Yulia Tymoshenko, a staunch ally of Mr. Yushchenko, said the same day that Yushchenko supporters want the Parliament to pass changes to the presidential election law before tackling the constitutional reform. (RFE/RL Newsline)

PM vows to run in repeat vote

KYIV - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych said on December 4 that he will stand against Viktor Yushchenko again in a rerun of the presidential run-off, Ukrainian and international news agencies reported. "He is convinced he will win the second time as he won the first time since 15 million Ukrainians stand behind him," Mr. Yanukovych's spokeswoman, Hanna Herman, told journalists. She added that Mr. Yanukovych regards the Supreme Court's decision invalidating the November 21 run-off as having been made "under huge political pressure." If one candidate withdraws from the repeat vote the other, in order to be elected, will have to obtain at least 50 percent plus one vote in a ballot involving no less than 50 percent of eligible voters. (RFE/RL Newsline)

U.S. hails Supreme Court ruling

WASHINGTON - Washington welcomed the Ukrainian Supreme Court ruling that there should be a rerun of the November 21 presidential run-off in Ukraine, Reuters reported on December 3. "What is important now is to move ahead quickly as called for by the Supreme Court to ensure a new vote that is fair, free, and that results in an outcome that reflects the will of the Ukrainian people," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher noted. "The court's decision is an important step in moving toward a peaceful, democratic resolution that reflects the will of the people," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the same day. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Donetsk leader addresses Duma

MOSCOW - Mykola Levchenko, chairman of the Donetsk City Council in eastern Ukraine, on December 1 urged Russian lawmakers to get tough with the West for interfering in his country's internal affairs, ITAR-TASS reported. "America and Western Europe are poking their snout into Ukraine, and Russia is afraid even to touch it with its hand," Mr. Levchenko told reporters after addressing a special session of the State Duma's leadership. "Political hooliganism is happening in Kyiv today," he said. Mr. Levchenko's Donetsk region, heavily Russian-speaking and pro-Moscow, has threatened to hold a referendum on autonomy if Viktor Yushchenko becomes Ukraine's president. Mr. Levchenko denied, however, that such a move would split Ukraine. "It's not about division or separatism, it's about a federation," he said. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma's unscheduled trip to Moscow...

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin met for two hours on December 2 with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, who made an unscheduled trip to Moscow to discuss Ukraine's political crisis, Russian media reported. Addressing journalists following the talks at Moscow's Vnukovo airport, Mr. Putin expressed his disagreement with Ukrainian opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko's demand that his disputed November 21 presidential run-off against government-backed and pro-Russian candidate Viktor Yanukovych be repeated. Mr. Putin voiced his support for holding a new election entirely, saying, "a re-vote could be conducted a third, a fourth, a 25th time, until one side gets the results it needs," RTR reported. Mr. Kuchma echoed Mr. Putin's sentiments, saying, "I don't know of a single country that has such a legal norm as a re-vote," RTR reported. Mr. Putin praised Mr. Kuchma for keeping the situation in Ukraine under control, and expressed Russia's concerns over "the possibility of Ukraine splitting up." He also said that Russia is prepared to help resolve the crisis, and that "Russia will always be together with Ukraine." (RFE/RL Newsline)

... prompts speculation as to his intentions

MOSCOW - Commenting on Kuchma's visit to Moscow, Duma Deputy Speaker Sergei Baburin (Motherland) said on December 2 that he believes the Ukrainian president made the trip to persuade Putin to retreat from his open support for Yanukovych, TV-Tsentr reported on December 2. Mr. Baburin said that while, as a Russian, he supports Mr. Yanukovych, as a politician he admires Viktor Yushchenko as "a revolutionary." The same evening in Kyiv, Mr. Yushchenko addressed his supporters with an unusual 20-minute speech in Russian, in which he called Russia Ukraine's most import neighbor and encouraged Ukrainians to acquire a good understanding of the Russian language. Meanwhile, gazeta.ru speculated on December 2 that during their meeting President Putin probably advised President Kuchma how to handle international pressure and the popular support that Mr. Yushchenko enjoys. The newspaper went on say that Messrs. Putin and Kuchma's discussion likely centered on finding a common position on a proposal by an international group of mediators that Ukraine prepare a new presidential election law jointly with a constitutional reform that would shift the balance of power from the president to the Parliament and the prime minister. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma: Russian involvement needed

MOSCOW - During his brief visit to Moscow on December 2, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma said that active Russian involvement is essential in resolving Ukraine's political crisis, ITAR-TASS reported the next day. "Without Russia's efforts it is impossible to find ways to overcome the political crisis," he said. "Otherwise Ukraine may lose its political identity." Mr. Kuchma also thanked State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov for taking part in roundtable negotiations on Ukraine's crisis as part of a group of international mediators. The Ukrainian president added that if the crisis is not resolved, "we can predict economic consequences." (RFE/RL Newsline)

European Parliament for second run-off

STRASBOURG - The European Parliament on December 2 passed a resolution on the situation in Ukraine condemning the November 21 presidential run-off in Ukraine as apparently fraudulent and rejecting the Central Election Commission's decision that declared Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych the winner, the European Parliament website (http://www.europarl.eu.int) reported. The European Parliament called on Ukrainian authorities to annul the official results of the run-off and hold an honest rerun of the second round before the end of this year with the participation of international observers. The resolution also called on Ukrainian protesters to allow the normal functioning of Ukraine's state organs and to refrain from barricading the main buildings of these organs. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Duma assails European Parliament

MOSCOW - The Russian State Duma passed a resolution on December 3 accusing members of the European Parliament, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) of destabilizing Ukraine, ITAR-TASS reported. The resolution, which passed by a vote of 415-0 with eight abstentions, accused the Europeans of "destructive foreign interference in the development of the situation in Ukraine." The action of the Europeans "practically pushes the radically minded part of the Ukrainian population toward dangerous actions," which threatens to result in "mass disturbances, chaos and a split of the country." The resolution harshly criticized the Ukrainian opposition supporting presidential hopeful Viktor Yushchenko for using the tactics of "street democracy." The resolution added that the Duma is sincerely interested in seeing that the situation in Ukraine is resolved in "a democratic and constitutional way," and stressed the lawmakers' "firm commitment to continuing efforts toward the strengthening of traditional friendship and fraternal relations between the peoples of Russia and Ukraine." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, December 12, 2004, No. 50, Vol. LXXII

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