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Viktor Yanukovych
Ukrainians are voting in a parliamentary election Western officials are billing as a litmus test of its democratic credentials.
Polls opened at 08:00 and pit a main opposition grouping against President Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions.
Viktor Yanukovych has been criticized in the West for the jailing of his main rival, former PM Yulia Tymoshenko.
A number of smaller parties are aiming to capitalize on disillusionment.
These include the liberal Udar party of boxing champion Vitali Klitschko – known as Dr. Ironfist – and the far-right Svoboda party.
Polls will be open for 12 hours and while some counts will come in very quickly, a final result is expected on Monday.
Half of the seats in the 450-member parliament will be filled by elected parties on a candidate list basis.
The other half will be filled by individual candidates voted in on a first-past-the-post system.
Some 5,000 candidates are standing for election.
These are some of the most closely watched elections in Ukraine’s history, with 3,500 accredited foreign observers, including more than 600 from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Western officials have voiced concerns over campaigning.
In a New York Times editorial this week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton cited “worrying trends” in the interim election report from the OSCE (of which Ukraine is due to take over the rotating chair in January).
These included government resources being used to favor ruling party candidates, media restrictions, vote-buying and lack of transparency on the electoral commissions.
Critics claim Yulia Tymoshenko was prosecuted and imprisoned last year in order to prevent her running in the election.
She is serving a seven-year prison sentence after being charged with overstepping her powers as prime minister four years ago when she signed a gas deal with Russia.
The EU indefinitely postponed its association agreement, including a free trade pact, after the jailing.
Yulia Tymoshenko’s Fatherland party has joined with other opposition parties to form a united front.
Viktor Yanukovych – who has been president for three years and faces re-election in 2015 – has rejected calls to free his rival, maintaining that she was sentenced by an independent court.
He insists European integration is one of his government’s main goals and will hope his pro-business party can hold on to the parliamentary majority it enjoys.
Ukraine’s 46 million-strong population has been hit by the global economic downturn and unpopular pension and tax policies.
Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions recently attempted to assuage public opinion by boosting public sector salaries and pensions – although this also exacerbated a $2 billion budget deficit and called into question the likelihood of securing IMF lending, correspondents say.
Ukrainian authorities hope a good assessment by 3,500 international election observers will reopen the door to the association agreement.
Vitali Klitschko’s popularity has grown because of his opposition to Viktor Yanukovych and because, as a newcomer, he is so far untainted by Ukraine’s corrosive politics which, correspondents say, are blighted by corruption and cronyism.
Svoboda’s strong anti-government stance and its passionate defence of Ukraine’s culture and language has also gained support, although the party is also known for racist and anti-Semitic statements.
Ukraine’s high court has rejected the appeal by jailed opposition leader and former PM Yulia Tymoshenko against her conviction for abuse of office.
Yulia Tymoshenko, currently in hospital, was jailed last October for seven years – a term confirmed by Wednesday’s ruling.
The former leader was convicted over a gas deal she signed with Russia’s Vladimir Putin while in power in 2009. She says her trial was politically motivated.
The European Court of Human Rights has begun considering her case.
Ukraine's high court has rejected the appeal by jailed opposition leader and former PM Yulia Tymoshenko against her conviction for abuse of office
Yulia Tymoshenko was accused of betraying the national interest in 2010, after her arch-rival Viktor Yanukovych had defeated her in a presidential election. The deal with Russia that she negotiated was deemed to have saddled Ukraine with enormous costs.
Viktor Yanukovych has forged closer ties with Russia, whereas Yulia Tymoshenko and former President Yushchenko sought to bring Ukraine closer to NATO and the EU.
With her distinctive plaited, blonde hair Yulia Tymoshenko was a key figure in Ukraine’s 2004 Orange Revolution. Since then she has twice served as prime minister.
Many EU politicians have echoed her criticisms of the Ukrainian authorities and in June European leaders boycotted Euro 2012 football matches in Ukraine, to show their displeasure at her detention.
Yulia Tymoshenko argues that her detention was politically motivated and that there has been no judicial review. She also says the authorities neglected her medical needs and kept up round-the-clock surveillance after moving her to a hospital in the eastern city of Kharkiv.
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Ukrainian Police in capital Kiev have fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters angry over a new language law that boosts the status of Russian.
The clashes erupted outside a building where President Viktor Yanukovych was scheduled to give a speech.
The new law, drafted by Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of the Regions, was adopted by parliament on Tuesday without a debate on numerous amendments.
World-famous boxer Vitali Klitschko was among the activists hurt in the unrest.
The interior ministry said 10 anti-riot police from the elite Berkut unit were admitted to hospital with injuries. The ministry said protesters assaulted police with bottles and aerosol sprays.
The police were equipped with helmets, shields and batons.
Ukrainian Police in capital Kiev have fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters angry over a new language law that boosts the status of Russian
Viktor Yanukovych decided to postpone his speech on Wednesday as clashes continued. He invited parliament leaders and heads of parliamentary factions to meet him to discuss the resignations.
Later he said he would have to call an early election if MPs failed to “stabilize parliament’s work”. A parliamentary election is officially scheduled for October.
Correspondents say about 1,000 opposition activists took part in the demonstration.
WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko called Tuesday’s vote “political suicide” and urged opposition MPs to boycott parliament. He heads an opposition group called Udar (Blow).
The controversial vote prompted a request from Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn to step down. “I have been fooled, Ukraine has been fooled,” he complained.
Volodymyr Lytvyn’s deputy Mykola Tomenko also tendered his resignation.
Meanwhile, seven MPs angry at the vote have gone on hunger strike.
The bill will become law once signed off by President Viktor Yanukovych, who is seen by his critics as being close to Moscow. The bedrock of his support is in Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine.
The second reading vote took place despite scuffles in the chamber between the ruling party and opposition MPs.
The bill grants Russian, mother tongue of most people in east and south Ukraine, “regional language” status.
Critics fear it will dilute Ukraine’s sovereignty and help return Ukraine to Moscow’s sphere of influence.
While Ukrainian would remain the country’s official language, Russian could be used in courts, hospitals, schools and other institutions in Russian-speaking regions. In practice Russian is already used widely in official establishments in Ukraine.
The new law says local officials can use a “regional language” if at least 10% of the local population are native speakers of that language.
Those officials would have to know the regional language and be able to use it in their official duties.
People will be allowed to choose which language they want their documents issued in – Ukrainian or regional.
The new law de facto grants Russian the status of an official language – but not the state one – in most of Ukraine.
Ukraine language law:
• Russian, mother tongue of most people in east and south Ukraine, would get “regional language” status
• In Russian-speaking areas Russian could be used in courts, hospitals, schools and other institutions
• Ukrainian remains the official state language
• People would be able to choose which language they want their documents issued in – Ukrainian or regional
• President Viktor Yanukovych’s party drafted language law
• His power base is Russian-speaking east
• Critics accuse him of being too cozy with Moscow
Ukraine has decided to postpone the 18th summit of Central European states planned for 11-12 May in Yalta after several of European leaders said they would boycott it.
Europe-wide concern about the treatment of jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko prompted the boycott. Yalta was the 11-12 May summit venue.
Former PM Yulia Tymoshenko has chronic back pain and is on hunger strike.
The presidents of Germany, Austria, Romania and the Czech Republic were among those who cancelled their trips.
Ukraine has not set a new date yet. There is also a threat that leaders may boycott Euro 2012 football matches in Ukraine next month.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Dykusarov said: “As a number of European heads of state cannot take part in the 18th summit of Central European states, Ukraine deems it necessary not to hold the summit on 11-12 May in Yalta.”
Ukraine has postponed the 18th summit of Central European states planned for 11-12 May in Yalta after several of European leaders said they would boycott it
Yulia Tymoshenko is in jail in the eastern city of Kharkiv and on Tuesday she refused to be moved to a local hospital.
She has alleged that prison guards beat her during a previous attempt to move her to hospital and her supporters released photographs showing bruises on her body.
Ukraine denies her allegations, including her claim that she is being punished as an act of political revenge by President Viktor Yanukovych.
Yulia Tymoshenko was jailed for seven years in October 2011 for abuse of office during her time as prime minister. She is an arch-rival of Viktor Yanukovych, whom she helped oust from power in the 2004 Orange Revolution.
Viktor Yanukovych had been elected president in a rigged election. However, in 2010 he staged a political comeback, defeating Yulia Tymoshenko in a new presidential election.
German media reports that pressure is mounting on the government to boycott Euro 2012 matches in Ukraine this summer because of alleged mistreatment of the jailed former PM and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
Chancellor Angela Merkel is considering such a boycott, the German news website Der Spiegel reports.
Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen said the government should stay away from Ukraine during the tournament. Ukraine is co-hosting Euro 2012 with Poland.
Yulia Tymoshenko says she is very ill.
She is reported to be on hunger strike and on Friday images appeared showing bruises on her body, which she says prison guards inflicted. She is being held in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine.
An official in the Ukraine Prosecutor’s Office, Vadim Goran, denied her allegation, saying the bruises came from “pushing against blunt, hard objects, or banging into them” and “in no way resulted from a punch to the stomach as she says”.
Germany warns to boycott Euro 2012 matches in Ukraine because of alleged mistreatment of the jailed Yulia Tymoshenko
After seeing the photos Sweden’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Ukrainian ambassador and demanded an explanation.
Yulia Tymoshenko, key rival of Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych, is serving a seven-year jail sentence for abuse of office and faces another trial on tax evasion charges.
The new trial has been delayed until late May because she is refusing to attend on health grounds. Yulia Tymoshenko accuses Viktor Yanukovych of exacting political revenge on her.
The authorities have denied her request to be treated abroad. She is said to have been suffering months of back pain and is reported to have been diagnosed with a herniated spinal disc.
Norbert Roettgen, quoted by Germany’s Bild newspaper, said the Ukrainian “dictatorship” must not be allowed to exploit Euro 2012 for its own benefit.
“That’s why I think visits by ministers and prime ministers to Euro 2012 are out of the question in current circumstances,” he said.
The German team will play the Netherlands in Kharkiv on 13 June. The tournament runs from 8 June to 1 July.
Germany’s Social Democrat opposition leader Sigmar Gabriel also called for a boycott.
On Thursday, Germany’s President Joachim Gauck called off his visit to a summit in the Ukrainian resort of Yalta next month. Czech President Vaclav Klaus has also cancelled his visit to Yalta for the central European leaders’ summit.
And on Friday the EU Justice Commissioner, Viviane Reding, said she would boycott Ukraine’s opening ceremony because “you cannot close your eyes on human rights, even during a great sporting celebration”.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry says it hopes the reports about Germany considering a boycott are just “a press canard”.
“We would not like to think that the political leaders of Germany are capable of reviving the methods of the Cold War and making sport a hostage of politics,” ministry spokesman Oleg Voloshin said.
In another blow to Ukraine’s image abroad the eastern city of Dnipropetrovsk – not one of the Euro 2012 venues – suffered four bomb blasts on Friday, which injured 27 people.
The authorities believe the attack – described as “terrorism” – was linked to a similar bomb blast in the city last November, in which the device was also placed in a rubbish bin.
Police have released photofit images of three suspects wanted in connection with Friday’s attack.
Fourteen victims remain in hospital in the city, two in a serious condition, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reports.
At least 27 people have been injured after four explosions have rocked the city of Dnipropetrovsk in eastern Ukraine.
The first two blasts happened at a busy central tram stop and near a local cinema, according to officials.
All the devices were apparently planted in rubbish bins.
No suspects have been identified yet and such an attack is unusual for Dnipropetrovsk. The industrial city is the birthplace of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
At least 27 people have been injured after four explosions have rocked the city of Dnipropetrovsk in eastern Ukraine
“This is yet another challenge for us, for the entire nation,” President Viktor Yanukovych said.
The first explosion injured five and the next, 30 minutes later, injured seven.
Tensions are running high over the alleged mistreatment of Yulia Tymoshenko. She was a leader of the pro-Western Orange Revolution in 2004 but her chief rival, Viktor Yanukovych, won an election in 2010 and forged closer ties with Russia.
Ukraine is also preparing to co-host the Euro 2012 football tournament this summer.
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Acting on a judge’s orders, police arrested former Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko during her abuse-of-office trial on Friday for violations of court procedures.
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Yulia Tymoshenko, the former Ukraine PM
Kiev’s court has arrested Ukraine’s ex-prime-minister Yulia Tymoshenko with the help of 30 policemen and special servicemen.
The arrest was demanded by a prosecutor over Tymoshenko’s numerous attempts to interfere in the trial.
Her supporters in court, including national lawmakers, squabbled with riot police, trying to prevent them from driving her away in a prison car and shouting:
“Shame! Shame!”
Dozens of Yulia Tymoshenko‘s supporters then gathered outside the court building in central Kiev and tried to block the road.
At the August 5th hearing she was insulting the current prime-minister Nikolay Azarov during his testimony. The charismatic Tymoshenko, the country’s top opposition leader, has criticized the trial as an attempt by President Viktor Yanukovych to bar her from elections and mocked the court.
Yulia Tymoshenko has refused to rise when addressing the court, as required, and routinely insulted the judge. Her supporters have repeatedly disrupted hearings.
Complying with the presiding judge’s orders, police surrounded Tymoshenko and escorted her out of the courtroom.
Yulia Tymoshenko is currently accused of abuse of office when signing the gas deal with Russia and can’t leave the country.
The 50-year-old opposition leader is charged with abusing her powers by signing a natural gas import contract with Russia in 2009 that prosecutors claim was disadvantageous to Ukraine.
Yulia Tymoshenko insists she is innocent, arguing that the contract ended weeks of natural gas disruptions to Ukrainian and European consumers and that she was authorized to sign the deal as prime minister.
[googlead tip=”vertical_mare”]Experts in Ukraine and abroad believe the trial’s real motive is to disqualify Yulia Tymoshenko from upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections by convicting her as a felon.
Yulia Tymoshenko has a long and bitter history with Viktor Yanukovych.
She was the central figure in Ukraine’s 2004 Orange Revolution mass protests that threw out Yanukovych’s fraud-tainted victory in a presidential election and led to another vote that brought a pro-Western government to power.
Viktor Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko during Orange Revolution 2004
Yulia Tymoshenko became prime minister, but Ukrainians grew frustrated by economic hardships, slow reforms and endless bickering in the Orange camp. As a result, she lost to Kremlin-friendly Yanukovych in the 2010 presidential election.
According to her official website:
Yulia Volodymyrivna Tymoshenko was born on November 27, 1960 in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine).
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Upon graduating from high school in 1979, she continued her education in Dnipropetrovsk State University. Her major was Economics-Cybernetics from the Department of Economics.
While being a student, she married Oleksandr Tymoshenko, in 1979 and gave birth to daughter Eugenia in 1980.
In 1984 Yulia Tymoshenko completed the university with distinction. She started to work as an engineer-economist at the Dnipropetrovsk machine-building plant, named after Lenin.
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