Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Another Ukraine update
Here's a review of what I've read in the last 12 hours. Previous posts are here, here and here. I'll add links where I can as I have time. It's a busy morning here.
UPDATE: The CEC has certified the election results. Damn. The ugly period begins now.
- Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko has decided the only person with whom he will meet is outgoing president Leonid Kuchma. No talks will occur between him and Kuchma's chosen successor Viktor Yanukovych, who still leads in the latest count in the polls.
- Yushchenko says it would be fine to re-run the second round elections with "an honest Central Election Commission". I think this is a sign of weakness, that he fears taking the presidency under the current circumstances is too divisive. That might be right, but it's a risky strategy.
- Rallies of diasporan Ukrainians continue in many places. Brama has a slideshow from NYC.
- Still no official word of a final count of the ballots, but Interfax says they should be out later this morning, showing Yanukovych still up 3%.
- Further discussions in private email I'm getting of the troops around Kuchma's building being Russian. Says one, "The president of a country has called in foreign troops against his people, in a way that is only seen in certain African countries. Likewise, the president of a neighboring country has sent in his troops to prop up an entirely discredited regime." The U.S. is trying to balance its support for Ukraine and Russia, but it's being put in a very difficult position.
UPDATE: The CEC has certified the election results. Damn. The ugly period begins now.
