I thought I'd post an update on the unfolding drama regarding the recent presidential election Ukraine, as it is very big news here. We don't know how much coverage this issue has gotten in the U.S., but here everyone's talking about it, and the outcome might produce big changes for Ukraine. Viktor Yanukovich is the candidate aligned with a closer relationship with Russia. He is the current prime minister under outgoing president Kuchma, whose term has been full of corruption and human rights abuses. Yanukovich himself has several criminal convictions and is supported by the mafia, as well as some people on the eastern side of Ukraine. He also has many supporters in our area of Donetsk, which is where Yanukovich is from. Viktor Yushchenko is aligned with the west and favors moving Ukraine towards a more western-type democracy, with possible membership in the European Union, less governmental corruption, etc. Last Sunday was the runoff election between the two and although exit polls showed overwhelming support for Yushchenko, "official" results declared Yanukovich the winner by about 3 percent yesterday. Apparently the election was rigged, with Yanukovich supporters receiving multiple absentee ballots, voting in multiple precincts, and Yushchenko voters being intimidated and harrassed. Since the election, several hundred thousand protesters have gathered in Kiev outside the parliament and camped there, demonstrating for Yushchenko and a fair election tally. No winner has officially been determined, because we've heard that several officials on the election commission have refused to endorse the "official" election results that name Yanukovich president. Protests are taking place in other cities throughout Ukraine, especially in the western part, where Yushchenko is widely supported. So far, all has been quiet in Donetsk. We and others here get our news from the Internet, as all Ukrainian media here is controlled by the Yanukovich camp. The variety of news sources and different information coming out produce many rumors and hearsay, and our Ukrainian colleagues are always talking about it.
Laura
