Archenemy of Orange Revolution tops Ukraine vote: Russia likely winner in runoff

Source: AP, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Archenemy of Orange Revolution tops Ukraine vote: Russia likely winner in runoff
By Associated Press
January 17, 2010, 5:41PM


DOUGLAS BIRCH and SIMON SHUSTER, Associated Press Writers

KIEV, Ukraine -- Disillusioned voters gave the archenemy of Ukraine's pro-democracy Orange Revolution a first-place finish in the initial round of presidential voting Sunday, setting up a showdown with the heroine of the 2004 revolt, an exit poll showed.

The survey predicted that pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych will finish first in the hard-fought contest. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will finish second, clearing the path for a runoff between the pair next month, the poll showed.

The vote appeared to be a repudiation of the Orange revolt by voters weary of endemic corruption and economic mismanagement.

The two leading candidates stood on opposite sides of the barricades during the peaceful mass demonstrations that kicked out a reputedly corrupt government in 2004. Yanukovych, then-prime minister, was a presidential candidate with the backing of the Kremlin. Tymoshenko and the Orange forces swarming the streets denounced Russian interference in his initial victory, which was eventually overturned.
Today, both say they will abandon efforts to join NATO and pledge to repair ties to Russia, the region's dominant power.

President Viktor Yushchenko, who led the Orange Revolution alongside Tymoshenko and was poisoned by dioxin during the race, garnered 6 percent of the vote in the exit poll, putting him in fifth place after five hapless years in office

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Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/world/index.ssf/2010/01/archenemy_of_orange_revolution.html

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Yuschenko's wife was a Heritage Foundation fellow. I guess they didn't expect incompetent, neocon, neoliberal government.

Five hapless years in office.

Or something like that?

since the neolibs are the "democracy party," their opponents must be "Russian totalitarianism," and thus anti-democratic even if elected democratically: same crap Reagan pulled when the Sandinistas were elected in 1984 and Bush against Hamas in 2006. Democracy doesn't mean voting for who the people want, it's voting for someone in lockstep with the biggest soi-disant democracy around...a very neat little trick

Just read up on the "National Endowment for Democracy" and other similar US government created/funded entities, designed to bring right-wing, "pro-US" (i.e. pro-Wall Street) governments to power all over the world. Viktor Yanukovych is basically just a social-democrat who wants to stay outside of NATO and the EU. A majority of Ukrainians have the same sentiments. His victory will be a victory for Ukraine.

The International Republican Institute is another fine institution to study when studying foreign election/poll fraud.

Take note Western World. You can't expect the rest of the world to live in poverty so you can bask in wealth.