Upcoming Ukrainian Parliamentary Elections

1.   Invitation of CIS observers to Ukraine incorrect - minister

ITAR-TASS
January 24, 2006

KIEV, January 24 (Itar-Tass) - The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry considers it impossible to invite observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States to the parliamentary elections due to be held in March, Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Anton Buteiko told a news briefing on Tuesday.

He said that the Supreme Rada, or parliament, passed a statement in 1991, saying that Ukraine should deal with the CIS as a structure without the status of a subject of the international law.

For this reason, inviting CIS observers “is incorrect, it does not meet requirements of the Ukrainian parliament”, Buteiko said.

He added that Ukraine was ready to receive observers from all CIS states separately.

In December 2005, the Supreme Rada invited a CIS observer mission to parliamentary elections and ordered the central election commission to give it accreditation, even though the Foreign Ministry had said earlier that Ukraine decided not to invite the CIS observers to the elections in March.

2.   Petro Poroshenko: Tymoshenko is not with Maydan anymore

ForUm

January 24, 2006

“Having created a strange alliance Yanukovich-Tymoshenko, proved by a voting for the dismissal of ministers, including Holovaty’s, who had nothing to do with gas, Yulia Tymoshenko put everything at stake,” a member of NSNU party Council, the ex-secretary of the NSDC Petro Poroshenko said in his interview to Glavred information agency.

“She is not with Maydan anymore. Surely, she is not for Yushchenko, but first and foremost for herself,” he added.

“Yulia Tymoshenko always declared she would never unite with Mr. Yanukovich in her public history. Let’s keep silent about her non-public history. But the first obstacle appeared on her way. Ignoring the fact that it will do harm to her image, rating and her reputation of a girl from Maydan, she nevertheless decided to unite with Mr. Yanukovich. She decided to fish in troubled waters,” noted Petro Poroshenko.

3.   Berezovsky hopes for reunion of “orange team”

ForUm

January 24, 2006

Russian business Boris Berezovsky does not abandon a hope for reunion of “orange team”, but did not give up an idea to bring an action against Oleksandr Tretyakov and David Zhvania, companions of the President of Ukraine.

“I haven’t yet lost a hope for reunion of “oranges”. I consider Victor Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko should reunite their forces for the welfare of democratic future of Ukraine,” said Berezovsky.

The Russian oligarch suspects Tretyakov and Zhvania of money fraud. According to Berezovsky, he was giving money “for support of democratic institutions” through them during presidential campaign. “I have prepared suits to a London court, but haven’t yet claimed,” said Berezovsky in an interview to “Segodnya”.

In response to the question whether he would help somebody during these parliamentary elections, Berezovsky said he would. “Yes, I will be present on the elections, helping intellectually and materially, giving grants to democratic organiozations.”

Yesterday, January 23, Boris Berezovsky celebrated his 60th anniversary in London. 

4. Tymoshenko again brings up Yanukovych’s sins

Ukrayinska Pravda

January 24, 2006

The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (BYuT) has demanded that the Party of Regions exclude Viktor Yanukovych, Borys Kolesnykov, Yevhen Kushnariov, Viktor Tykhonov, and Oleksandr Yefremov from its electoral party list.

In a special Unity Day appeal released by its press service, the bloc called these politicians “organizers of the separatist witches’ sabbath in Sieverodonetsk.”

“A year ago separatist and secessionist rhetoric and actions – in the service of Moscow political spin doctors – became the foundation of Yanukovych’s presidential campaign,” reads the appeal.

BYuT calls attention to the fact that Viktor Yanukovych himself, after the failure of the attempt to falsify the presidential elections in Ukraine, organized the separatist gathering in Sieverodonetsk, where calls were made to form the South-Eastern Ukrainian Autonomous Republic.

BYuT indicates that after Viktor Yushchenko’s victory, “there was the hope that the organizers of the separatist witches’ sabbath would quickly and fairly end up in court, and from there into jail cells.”

“Nevertheless, Yushchenko’s shameful pact with Yanukovych, signed so that Yekhanurov could become prime minister, spared the separatists,” reads the appeal. “In order to carry out this pact, President Yushchenko signed the memorandum on immunity for deputies of municipal councils.”

BYuT reminds people that Kolesnyvkov, Kushnariov, Tykhonov, and Yefremov are deputies or heads of local governing bodies, and now all separatists are appearing as candidates for parliament on the Party of Regions list.

BYuT calls on Yanukovych to “repent before the Ukrainian people for his involvement in aggravating interregional, interethnic and inter-religious enmity during his presidential campaign.”

Also, according to the statement, law enforcement agencies should hold all participants of separatist actions to criminal responsibility, including those carried out during the Sieverodonetsk conference in 2004. 

5.   Mykola Martynenko: Poll rating falling is an inevitable result of destructive actions

Press Service of Our Ukraine Electoral Bloc

January 24, 2006

“Yulia Tymoshenko is playing the main role in the attempts to destabilize a political situation in the country. A conflict is a comfortable sphere of political activity for her – the head of the VR faction of “Our Ukraine” party Mykola Martynenko said in his interview to “Vremya novostey” edition. – But such a tactics may only cause her poll rating falling. The president is above political fuss of hurt politicians. He demands the decision corresponding the law and the Constitution”.

Answering the question whether an alliance of Our Ukraine bloc and Tmoshenko bloc in the Rada is possible, Mykola Martynenko said: “I would not rule out this possibility. But Tymoshenko forces are co-operating with anti-presidential forces. They block the adoption of the bills submitted by the president together. For the time being the Tymoshenko bloc puts obstacles in the way of blocking with Our Ukraine bloc.”

Answering the question about likeliness of creation of a “blue” parliamentary majority and Viktor Yanukovych becoming PM, Mr. Martynenko said: “I rule out this variant. I am sure that the parliamentary majority and the government will be formed on the base of Our Ukraine bloc”.