NY Times on the new government
“Especially in the last five years, there was this impression in society that people in government were essentially immune from prosecution,” the Ukrainian foreign minister, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, said in an interview. “We need to send a serious signal to society that this behavior is unacceptable.”
But the United States and its European allies appear increasingly skeptical of the government’s motives. Western diplomats pointed out that when the Orange side was in charge in Kiev it could have easily gone after Mr. Yanukovich with the same prosecutorial fervor but instead left him alone.
They noted that the audit by the American firms looked only at Ms. Tymoshenko’s tenure, not at the years when Mr. Yanukovich was in the government before becoming president.
Straightforward review of the Yanukovych's government behavior toward the opposition in the NY Times. However, I don't agree with this bit.
The clash between the politicians reflects Ukraine’s geographic divide. Mr. Yanukovich is from the Russian-speaking eastern part of the country, which has long turned toward Moscow for support. Ms. Tymoshenko portrays herself as a champion of western Ukraine, where the Ukrainian language dominates and people want more bonds with Europe.
Here's the map showing of the second round of the presidential election, bottom map. The top map shows October local election results, whose results are suspect. The point is that the neat West-East dichotomy doesn't fit the map. The article is correct to say that Tymoshenko portrays herself as a nationalist champions. However, she has a wider appeal then just the western Ukraine, which I assume refers to the Hapsburg part of Ukraine.
The mayor of Kyiv returns
"I really was in Georgia," Chernovetsky said during a 45-minute interview on Channel 5. He noted that he'd carried on fulfilling his duties from abroad. "They brought me documents to sign," he said, appearing to confirm earlier local press reports that papers were being flown out for his signature. Political analysts have their own theories about his temporary disappearance, and all are connected to attempts by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's government to consolidate power in the country by sidelining officials not allied to the ruling party and launching investigations against former officials from the previous government, a move criticized by both U.S. and European Union officials.Well, the mayor has returned from Georgia. according to Time. However, his marginalization by the central government will go on.
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