Iron Yulia

Several days ago the Russian NTV television channel, allegedly controlled by the Kremlin, premiered a biographic documentary film entitled "Iron Yulia".

Perhaps unexpectedly, it portrayed its subject, Yulia Tymoshenko, in a favourable light. There was little that could be negatively perceived by a Russian, or by a wider audience. Few details of her shady UESU gas trading activities, or even her crucial role in the Orange Revolution where detailed.

One Ukrainian political analyst says the Kremlin is indicating Russia has not forgotten about Yulia Tymoshenko and consider her an alternative to Viktor Yanukovych, particulary as those who imprisoned her now believe she has ceased to be an alternative. It is no accident the film appeared during a period of cooling relations between the president's administration and the Kremlin, when there is little common ground on the issue of gas and Ukraine's gas transportation system.
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The film could even be a turning point in Tymoshenko's fortunes, though Yanukovych is doing his utmost to keep his arch-enemy under his boot.

But as with the other 'Iron Lady' - the fascination endures... Like it or not, we live in an era of political celebrity..and her incarceration merely adds to the myth..