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Ukrainians need politicians who keep their promises Ukrainians need politicians who keep their promises
(about 1 hour later)
The large electronic clock in Kiev's Independence Square shows the exact number of seconds left to the start of the European Football Championship. The sun is blazing down over the Ukrainian capital, and the locals, forgetting that summer is officially still a month away, have taken to the beaches of the Dnieper river.The large electronic clock in Kiev's Independence Square shows the exact number of seconds left to the start of the European Football Championship. The sun is blazing down over the Ukrainian capital, and the locals, forgetting that summer is officially still a month away, have taken to the beaches of the Dnieper river.
However, the fine weather is not enough to please everyone. Pensioners and others are complaining about the 50% rise in electricity prices, at the same time as the government insists it will raise domestic gas prices too – not because it wants to, but because the IMF says it will not release the next multimillion dollar tranche of credit until life for the Ukrainian population has not grown more expensive.However, the fine weather is not enough to please everyone. Pensioners and others are complaining about the 50% rise in electricity prices, at the same time as the government insists it will raise domestic gas prices too – not because it wants to, but because the IMF says it will not release the next multimillion dollar tranche of credit until life for the Ukrainian population has not grown more expensive.
Meanwhile, all Europe, indeed the whole world, has come out in defence of Yulia Tymoshenko, the jailed former prime minister. She has shown the world the evidence of the brute force used against her – her bruises. Tymoshenko is serving a seven-year sentence near the city of Kharkiv, and her case has come to resemble a medieval story of dragons and ogres who have entrapped a maiden in a tower while knights in shining armour attempt to rescue her.Meanwhile, all Europe, indeed the whole world, has come out in defence of Yulia Tymoshenko, the jailed former prime minister. She has shown the world the evidence of the brute force used against her – her bruises. Tymoshenko is serving a seven-year sentence near the city of Kharkiv, and her case has come to resemble a medieval story of dragons and ogres who have entrapped a maiden in a tower while knights in shining armour attempt to rescue her.
Even President Putin has joined the ranks of the rescuers calling for her to be released – not pardoned, but released – for medical treatment. And all the while President Viktor Yanukovych, who was the prime mover in getting her into prison, says nothing. He says nothing about the threatened boycott of Euro 2012 or the suggestion to move matches from Ukraine to other countries. Even President Putin has joined the ranks of the rescuers calling for her to be released – not pardoned, but released – for medical treatment. And all the while President Viktor Yanukovych, who was the prime mover in getting her into prison, says nothing. He says nothing about the threatened boycott of Euro 2012 or the suggestion that matches be from Ukraine to other countries.
A central European summit is due to take place this week in Yalta, at Livadia Palace, where Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill met at the end of the second world war. However, many have been put off attending by the sight of Tymoshenko's bruises. Again, Yanukovych remains silent on the matter, and so does his cabinet. One or two MPs from the ruling Party of the Regions have piped up to attack Angela Merkel and to remind her that she runs Germany, not Ukraine. However, they have not made similar attacks on the Siamese twin presidents of Russia, Putin-Medvedev, who have taken turns to speak out in defence of both Tymoshenko and the Russian-Ukrainian agreement that defined the price of Russian gas for Ukraine, signed by her in 2009. A central European summit is due to take place this week in Yalta, at Livadia Palace, where Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill met at the end of the second world war. However, many have been put off attending by the sight of Tymoshenko's bruises. Again, Yanukovych remains silent on the matter, and so does his cabinet. One or two MPs from the ruling Party of the Regions have piped up to attack Angela Merkel and remind her that she runs Germany, not Ukraine. However, they have not made similar attacks on the Siamese twin presidents of Russia, Putin-Medvedev, who have taken turns to speak out in defence of both Tymoshenko and the Russian-Ukrainian agreement that defined the price of Russian gas for Ukraine, which she signed in 2009.
Such all-round isolation is something new for Ukraine. In the past, the west was blackmailed with the possibility of Ukraine's "deepening" friendship with Russia, while Russia was blackmailed with possibility of Ukraine's "deeper" co-operation with Nato and the United States. With Yanukovych as president, such games are impossible.Such all-round isolation is something new for Ukraine. In the past, the west was blackmailed with the possibility of Ukraine's "deepening" friendship with Russia, while Russia was blackmailed with possibility of Ukraine's "deeper" co-operation with Nato and the United States. With Yanukovych as president, such games are impossible.
Yanukovych became president two years ago, promising voters "a better life starting from today". As soon as he was elected, he sought to improve relations with Russia, which his predecessor, Viktor Yushchenko, had left in a critical condition. In April 2010, Yanukovych dealt with the most pressing question of Ukrainian-Russian relations by signing a 25-year extension to the lease of waterfront and land in Sevastopol for Russia's Black Sea Fleet. It was expected Russia would reciprocate by lowering gas prices to the Ukraine, but this did not happen – and an extended "gas war" began. Yanukovych became president two years ago, promising voters "a better life starting from today". As soon as he was elected, he sought to improve relations with Russia, which his predecessor, Viktor Yushchenko, had left in a critical condition. In April 2010, Yanukovych dealt with the most pressing question in Ukrainian-Russian relations by signing a 25-year extension to the lease of waterfront and land in Sevastopol for Russia's Black Sea Fleet. It was expected Russia would reciprocate by lowering gas prices to the Ukraine, but this did not happen – and an extended "gas war" began.
Tymoshenko, as signatory to the price agreement with Russia, became the first "victim" of that war in the Ukrainian camp. But even without the gas war, she would have been arrested and charged with something, perhaps one of the charges used against her 10 years ago when Leonid Kuchma was president. It was Yushchenko, the then prime minister, who saved her from prison at that time. But Yushchenko is probably much less sympathetic to Tymoshenko's plight now, blaming her as he does for the failure of the Orange revolution team despite its five years in power.Tymoshenko, as signatory to the price agreement with Russia, became the first "victim" of that war in the Ukrainian camp. But even without the gas war, she would have been arrested and charged with something, perhaps one of the charges used against her 10 years ago when Leonid Kuchma was president. It was Yushchenko, the then prime minister, who saved her from prison at that time. But Yushchenko is probably much less sympathetic to Tymoshenko's plight now, blaming her as he does for the failure of the Orange revolution team despite its five years in power.
By the way, those old cases against Tymoshenko have been reopened, and some new ones as well. She is now accused of organising the murder of the oligarch Vladimir Shcherban. In other words, the organs of justice have been instructed to add a few more jail sentences to the seven years she has already got for signing that gas contract.By the way, those old cases against Tymoshenko have been reopened, and some new ones as well. She is now accused of organising the murder of the oligarch Vladimir Shcherban. In other words, the organs of justice have been instructed to add a few more jail sentences to the seven years she has already got for signing that gas contract.
The only problem is that the Ukrainian legal system is not taken seriously either in Ukraine or abroad. Ukraine has no truly independent judiciary. While in power, Tymoshenko took advantage of this herself, getting the judgments she wanted whether they were just or not.The only problem is that the Ukrainian legal system is not taken seriously either in Ukraine or abroad. Ukraine has no truly independent judiciary. While in power, Tymoshenko took advantage of this herself, getting the judgments she wanted whether they were just or not.
Tymoshenko is a talented actor and political orator, capable of stirring the masses to follow her, Evita Peron-style, towards any unrealistic dream. This is why she was arrested. There would be nothing easier for her than to lead protests against the current government. Were she to take part in a parliamentary election, her party would get the most votes. Were she to take part in the 2015 presidential election, she would win – and the first thing she would do as president would be to order the courts to arrest Yanukovych and all his team and to charge them with every possible criminal offence.Tymoshenko is a talented actor and political orator, capable of stirring the masses to follow her, Evita Peron-style, towards any unrealistic dream. This is why she was arrested. There would be nothing easier for her than to lead protests against the current government. Were she to take part in a parliamentary election, her party would get the most votes. Were she to take part in the 2015 presidential election, she would win – and the first thing she would do as president would be to order the courts to arrest Yanukovych and all his team and to charge them with every possible criminal offence.
Needless to say, not all of the charges would be groundless, but Ukraine would not benefit from the proceedings, just as it does not benefit from Yanukovych or the mass protests in defence of Tymoshenko or the threatened boycott of the European Football Championship. Ukrainians will only benefit from electing politicians who are interested in Ukrainian society and who make realistic promises.Needless to say, not all of the charges would be groundless, but Ukraine would not benefit from the proceedings, just as it does not benefit from Yanukovych or the mass protests in defence of Tymoshenko or the threatened boycott of the European Football Championship. Ukrainians will only benefit from electing politicians who are interested in Ukrainian society and who make realistic promises.