From the new French 'Altantico' news website, [known for exclusive scoops] an op-ed piece entitled: "A strong smell of gas behind the Tymoshenko trial":
"[Yulia Tymoshenko], the former prime minister in 2009 put an end to the role of RosUkrEnergo as an intermediary in the gas sector, thus closing the valve feeding the Russian Semyon Mogilevych and the Party of Regions of President Viktor Yanukovych via Dmytro Firtash and Ivan Fursin.... The prosecutor handling the case, said on his appointment in November 2010 that his sole mission was to serve the president, and the judges have also repeatedly been praised by Viktor Yanukovych.
Europe would be wrong to take these cases lightly. Behind this case not only is the political and democratic future of a country in the immediate vicinity being played out, but also energy issues affecting European supply (Ukraine is a major transit country for Russian gas) and also important criminal issues (Semyon Mogilevich has been sought by the FBI for several years).
Diplomatic condemnations cannot be sufficient, we must now move to sanctions."
Yanukovych clearly thinks that he can 'ride out' the 'shit-storm' directed at him from western politicians and the western media, but it is difficult how. There surely will be a price to pay.
How ironic that, as 'Yulia Mostova of 'Dzerkalo Tyzhnya' in a brilliant article points out, opinion polls reveal that although Yanukovych is still running ahead of Tymoshenko [by 56% against 44%], against any other candidate, in a straight head-to-head run-off, Yanukovych would lose by a similar margin.
In other words, by eliminating Tymoshenko from any contest he may well be sealing his own fate...
1 comment:
The poll showing nothng surprising. We always news that any other canidate other than Tymoshenko or Yushchenko had a chance of winning the Presidency in a head to head contest. a simmilar poll would show that Hryhoriy Nemyriam who would be well suited to the post, could win the election.
The main problem with young Yatseniuk is that he is seen to be too close to Yushchenko having never rebuked or opposed any of Yushchenko's policies or decisions.
The question that needs to be asked of Yatseniuk is where does he stand on the question of Constitutional Reform. Does he support a Parliamentary rule of law democracy or does he support Yushchenko's policy of maintaining a strong dominate autocratic presidential 'rule by decree' system.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Venice commission have both recommended and advocated that Ukraine adopt a full parliamentary system. Where does Yatseniuk and Tymoshenko stand on this crucial issue.
As long as Ukraine retains the presidential system it will NEVER be a free democratic independent state.
Ukraine needs leaders and politicians who value democracy over autocracy and who will stand up and advocate loudly for reform. Now is there one and only chance to stand out from the pack of wolves. Will he howl in triumph or will he howl in defeat and cow tail to the powers that be in the absence of meaningful policy for change..
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