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Story Highlights• Supporters of PM Yanukovych protest president's decision to call early election
• Parliament refused to acknowledge President Yushchenko's order
• Supporters of each man plan rival demonstrations in Ukrainian capital, Kiev
• Analyst says political crisis has "gone beyond the point of no return"
Geopolitical Diary: The Grab for Ukraine
The last time Ukraine was in play was in 2004, when there was an electoral fight between would-be presidents Viktor Yanukovich and Viktor Yushchenko that featured Russian President Vladimir Putin campaigning directly for the former -- with the entire West backing the latter. By the time the dust settled, Yushchenko had grabbed the presidency, while subsequent elections landed Yanukovich in the prime minister's chair.
Yanukovich has managed to use his more powerful position as head of government to steadily whittle down Yushchenko's institutional power and popularity. Unwilling to be sidelined, Yushchenko on Monday invoked his most powerful constitutional ability, dissolving the Yanukovich-dominated parliament and ordering fresh elections.
But unlike in 2004, when Yushchenko could count on the West to provide him with financial and technical assistance, this time he might be on his own.
Originally posted by Muaddib
Anyways, I wanted to respond to your last comments.
It appears that the former officer you were speaking with wants Communism to rule your nation again.
I am not sure how old you were went your country was part of the U.S.S.R., or how much you know about it.
I was born and lived in a Communist country, and it is not as good and wonderful as that former officer says it is.
Communism is an opressing regime, it always was and it will always be.
My input on the problems that are happening in the former Communist countries is that there are powerful people who are still in government who want Communism back and never really wanted Capitalism to succeed, which is one of the reasons why capitalism hasn't worked so well in the former Communist countries.
[edit on 6-4-2007 by Muaddib]
Emotions run high in Kiev streets but no conflicts fixed
KIEV, April 6 (Itar-Tass) - Emotions keep running high in Kiev streets, but none of the mass actions of protest against the dissolution of parliament has grown into a conflict so far.
Leading politologists forecast that political confrontation in Ukraine will not result in the use of force. Time will show how things will develop. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich has not ruled out that actions of politicians “can instigate a major civil standoff”.
Ukraine president threatens to charge his rival
KIEV -- President Viktor Yushchenko threatened his rival yesterday with criminal charges if he refuses to prepare for early parliamentary elections next month, suggesting that the Ukrainian leader was losing patience in the deepening political crisis.
Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych remained defiant, however, vowing to first wait for a ruling from the Constitutional Court on the legality of the dissolution order. He also called for the involvement of a European mediator to defuse the crisis -- Ukraine's worst since its 2004 Orange Revolution, which swept Mr. Yushchenko into power.
The court said it would issue a decision within one month of opening its hearings but did not announce when they would start.
Mr. Yushchenko has been reluctant to leave the matter in the hands of the 18-judge court and has been pressing Mr. Yanukovych to make a political decision and accept the elections.
Originally posted by JacKatMtn
Do you think this heated confrontation at the top will eventually lead to violence in your streets?
Sounds like the leaders equate those in the square as pawns, do you think Yushchenko or Yanukovich actually care about them?
Stay safe..
Originally posted by tjack
This thread is riveting to me, and a perfect example of what ATS is all about. A flag and a way above from me, Maestro, I very much appreciate your updates on the current happenings. The perspective you offer, from inside this situation is priceless!
[edit on 6-4-2007 by tjack]