Digenis.org

Though bogged down by a grueling schedule, I’m trying to keep on top of all that’s happening in Ukraine right now. A little bit over a month ago, Edward and I began discussing a potential trip to Kiev and Crimea in March and, needless to say, these current events are making my trip research all the more intriguing. After all, it’s even possible that Ukraine - as we know it today - will be just another page in history come March.

Aside from the news blurbs on television and articles on the net, I’ve gathered a lot of my understanding of the situation from conversation with Russian coworkers and friends, a few of whom have Ukrainian backgrounds.

There’s no doubt that the serious allegations of election corruption carry a lot of truth. The results of the election were decided before anyone voted and both candidates manipulated the system in the regions where they claimed strongest support from local authorities. It’s just that, as Alexei (he’s been giving some great commentary and speculation from a Russian perspective at his blog, the Russian Dilettante) points out, Yuschenko had fewer votes at his disposal and couldn’t influence the election to the degree that his opponent could. Not to mention that Leonid Kuchma - realizing that his future would be much brighter if Yanukovich were elected - along with Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, and most of the West supported Yanukovich from the start.

My friend Misha is convinced that the Yushenko supporters aren’t as loyal as the West is making them out to be. And the sarcasm just isn’t as thick as it usually is when he suggests that once the really cold weather arrives the protesters will pack up and head back to work, remembering that New Year is rapidly approaching and they need money for gifts and alcohol. In a few weeks, he says, it will be only Yuschenko’s family supporting him at the rallies in Kiev. I don’t know. . .In my opinion, Yanukovich’s supporters don’t seem all to commited too their candidate either.