Date:26/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/26/stories/2004112603371400.htm

International

Ukraine poll crisis likely to ease

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, NOV. 25. The four-day post-election crisis is Ukraine showed first signs of fizzling out today, with the Opposition backing away from plans to storm Government buildings and the Government offering talks to end mass street protests.

The pro-Western Opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko, called for a general strike after the Central Election Commission formally announced on Wednesday that he had suffered a defeat in Sunday's presidential poll runoff against the Russia-leaning Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovich.

Mr. Yushchenko also said he had filed an appeal with Ukraine's Supreme Court over alleged rigging of the vote.

Vigil continues

"We are not in favour of using force," Mr. Yushchenko told tens of thousands of his supporters who continue their vigil in Kiev.

"We favour political dialogue to resolve the crisis."

The Prime Minister, Mr. Yanukovich, said he was ready for talks with the Opposition to end the standoff.

Blockade

The Opposition leaders have launched a call for a nationwide political stoppage and vowed to block railways, airports and highways.

Their supporters today cut major highways on Ukraine's western borders, stranding hundreds of trucks. Ironically, a blockade of communications would hit primarily the Opposition powerbase in western Ukraine, which depends on food and other supplies from eastern Ukraine and Europe.

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, who has strongly supported Mr. Yanukovich, today formally congratulated him on his election victory.

"The people of Ukraine has made its choice in favour of stability, stronger statehood, (and) further democratic and economic reforms," the Russian leader said in his message to Mr. Yanukovich. Mr. Putin made it clear he saw the vote as a victory for his cause of building closer ties with Ukraine.

"Most favourable conditions have now been created for uplifting Russian-Ukrainian strategic partnership to a qualitatively higher level."

Russia's embrace of Mr. Yanukovich was in stark contract to the hostile reaction in the West. Washington has refused to recognise the results as legitimate, with the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, warning Ukraine of "consequences for our relationship" if it "does not act immediately and responsibly."

Mr. Putin warned the West not to stir trouble in Ukraine.

"We have no moral right to push Ukraine towards mass-scale disorders," the Russian President told the European Union leaders at their joint press conference after the E.U.-Russia summit in The Hague today.