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Action Ukraine Report

"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT"
An International Newsletter
In-Depth Ukrainian News, Analysis, and Commentary

"The Art of Ukrainian History, Culture, Arts, Business, Religion,
Sports, Government, and Politics, in Ukraine and Around the World"

"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT" Year 04, Number 203
The Action Ukraine Coalition (AUC), Washington, D.C.
Ukrainian Federation of America (UFA), Huntingdon Valley, PA
morganw@patriot.net, ArtUkraine.com@starpower.net (ARTUIS)
Washington, D.C., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2004

-----INDEX OF ARTICLES-----
"Major International News Headlines and Articles"

1. "THE UKRAINE ELECTION"
STATEMENT by Viktor Yushchenko, Kiev
Former Prime Minister of Ukraine
International Herald Tribune, Friday, October 29, 2004

2. "CURRENCY CRISIS ADDS TWIST TO UKRAINE'S
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION"
By Tom Warner in Kiev
Financial Times, London, UK, Friday, October 29 2004

3. "UKRAINE CAN ILL AFFORD AN UNFAIR ELECTION"
By Richard Armitage, Deputy US Secretary of State
Financial Times, London, UK, Friday, October 29 2004

4. "UKRAINIAN ELECTION"
Irish Times, Ireland, Friday, October 29, 2004

5. PUTIN ROLE IN KIEV'S TIMELY SHOW OF FORCE DENOUNCED
Askold Krushelnycky in Kiev, The Independent
London, United Kingdom, Friday, Oct 29, 2004

6. UKRAINIAN CANDIDATE VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO VOWS
TO PROTEST ANY VOTING FRAUD
By Halia Pavliva, Bloomberg Newsroom
New York, New York, Thursday, October 28, 2004

7. VIKTOR YANUKOVYCH THANKS POLICEMEN INVOLVED IN
CLASHES WITH SUPPORTERS OF VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO
Ukrayina TV, Donetsk, Ukraine, in Russian, 28 Oct 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Thu, October 28, 2004

8. YUSHCHENKO LEADS IN LATEST PRESIDENTIAL POLL
Ukraine: Yushchenko 32%, Yanukovych 28%
Interfax-Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine, Thu, October 28, 2004

9. U.S. MISSION AT OSCE CALLS UPON UKRAINE GOVERNMENT
TO THROW ALL ITS WEIGHT INTO ENDING VIOLATIONS OF
DEMOCRATIC NORMS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
U.S. Mission to the OSCE, Vienna, Austria, Thu, October 28, 2004

10. INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE FIELDS
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION MONITORING TEAM IN UKRAINE
IRI, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, October 29, 2004

11. UKRAINIAN STUDENTS UNION IN GERMANY PROTESTS
Ukrainian Students Union in Germany, Germany, Wed, Oct 27, 2004

12. "LETTER IN SUPPORT OF DEMOCRACY IN UKRAINE"
Dr. Yaroslav Hrytsak, Lviv University
New York, New York, Wed, October 27, 2004

13. NEW WEBSITE "GLOBALVOTE2004 UKRAINE" LAUNCHED
GlobalVote2004 Ukraine, Youth Civic Movement PORA!
Ukraine, Thursday, October 28, 2004

14.OUR VOICE IN SOLIDARITY WITH STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS
OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF "KYIV-MOHYLA ACADEMY"
Ukrainian Student Association at the University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, Wed, October 27, 2004

15. "FEAR AND POLITICS AT KIEV WAR PARADE"
President Vladimir Putin watched a Soviet-style military parade
By Francesca Mereu, Staff Writer
Moscow Times, Moscow, Russia, Friday, October 29, 2004
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 203: ARTICLE NUMBER ONE
========================================================
1. "THE UKRAINE ELECTION"

STATEMENT by Viktor Yushchenko, Kiev
Former Prime Minister of Ukraine
International Herald Tribune, Friday, October 29, 2004

Following a mysterious poisoning last month, my name was almost added
to the lengthy list of those who crossed paths with Kiev's shady political
masters and paid with their lives.
.
I am convinced Ukrainians are ripe for sweeping political change through
peaceful and democratic means. To that end, millions of Ukrainians have
mobilized during this presidential campaign. This is the main reason my
opponents want me knocked out of the race for the presidency.
.
The choice facing Ukrainians in the Oct. 31 vote is very clear. One option
is to unleash economic opportunities, secured by democratic values and
individual liberties that would launch Ukraine's integration into greater
Europe. The other choice is for Ukrainians to vote to prolong authoritarian
rule - preserving the monopoly of a privileged few over state power and
wealth.
.
The implications from this choice will affect not only Ukraine, but also
will resonate throughout global business centers as well as European and
Asian capitals.
.
The campaign has been unfair from the start because it has openly ignored
two basic criteria for free and fair elections: the absence of government
interference in the electoral process and equal access to mass media for the
candidates. The regime is hindering Ukraine's choice by creating obstacles
that promote a pre-election environment filled with fear, intimidation and
uncertainty.
.
What can save Ukraine's presidential voting? We need ballot security. That
will only be guaranteed on Election Day by the impartial actions of election
commissioners brave enough to withstand the pressure from authorities and
rogue police officers instructed by President Leonid Kuchma's machine to
deliver the vote it wants.
.
Domestic and international election observers are needed to help ensure the
final act in this election campaign is not stolen by the incumbent regime,
as has been done before. -30- [Action Ukraine Monitoring Service]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Viktor Yushchenko, Kiev, former Prime Minister of Ukraine
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.203: ARTICLE NUMBER TWO
=======================================================
2. "CURRENCY CRISIS ADDS TWIST TO UKRAINE'S
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION"

By Tom Warner in Kiev
Financial Times, London, UK, Friday, October 29 2004

KIEV - Viktor Yanukovich, Ukraine's prime minister, yesterday told local
officials to clamp down on rising prices as his government struggled to
control a growing currency crisis ahead of presidential elections.

Mr Yanukovich, one of two leading candidates in elections this Sunday,
blamed a sharp rise in food prices over the past month on local officials
"who unfortunately are occupied with their own affairs and not with those
that worry the people". He promised to "draw conclusions" about "every
official".

His comments came as the central bank revealed increasing pressure on the
hryvnya currency. Figures this week showed the bank had spent $800m
(Euro,626m, £437m) on currency markets since September 10 to support
the hryvnya, including $442m in October 18-22.

A manager of one foreign-owned private bank said the central bank had
"started a panic" with clumsy administrative measures. He said banks had
received a letter from the central bank warning that, if the crisis
worsened, it would consider stripping some banks' licences.

Ukraine's economic performance has been strong this year, with real gross
domestic product growth at 13.6 per cent in January to August, against
inflation of 4.3 per cent. Until recently, most economists had considered
the hryvnya to be significantly undervalued.

The central bank increased its foreign reserves from $5.1bn at the start of
the year to $10.7bn on September 10 on the back of strong exports. However,
the hryvnya began falling and prices rising soon after Mr Yanukovich doubled
the minimum monthly pension.

The increase further pushed up demand for hard currency during a traditional
seasonal peak in September, when many farmers convert annual earnings into
hard currency. Capital flight among businessmen worried about the elections
and memories of currency drops after previous elections are believed to have
compounded the problem.

Last month, the central bank banned exchange booths from deviating by more
than 2 per cent from its fixed exchange rates. In response, booths have
stopped selling hard currency and a black market has emerged where the
hryvnya trades at discounts of up to 15 per cent. Some banks are refusing to
process large withdrawals from hard currency accounts.

Mr Yanukovich has insisted that speculators, not higher pensions, are to
blame.

High tensions led police to stop the public viewing a military parade
marking the 60th anniversary of Ukraine's liberation from Nazi occupation
yesterday. Leonid Kuchma, the outgoing president, has been accused of using
the parade to intimidate supporters of Mr Yanukovich's opponent, the liberal
former central banker, Viktor Yushchenko.

In a guest editorial in today's Financial Times, Richard Armitage, the US
deputy secretary of state, reiterates recent US complaints about campaign
unfairness and calls on Mr Kuchma "to transfer power with dignity, through a
peaceful, proper electoral process". -30-
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.203: ARTICLE NUMBER THREE
=======================================================
3. "UKRAINE CAN ILL AFFORD AN UNFAIR ELECTION"

By Richard Armitage, Deputy US Secretary of State
Financial Times, London, UK, Friday, October 29 2004

In the heat of this US presidential campaign season, Americans can take
some comfort in knowing they are not alone. Countries around the world
are experiencing an unusually eventful political climate this year. The
significance for the US of these global contests lies less in the outcome of
any single election than in the fact that a free and fair vote is taking
place in so many countries today.

In Afghanistan, for example, the successful election earlier this month was
clearly a necessary precursor to rebuilding and stabilising the country. The
opposite is true of Belarus, where elections on October 17 were sullied by
fraud, intimidation and administrative abuse, an unmistakable signal that an
already troubled country will remain mired in a repressive political system
and will stay outside the Euro-Atlantic community.

The next bellwether for democracy will be seen on Sunday in Ukraine, right
next door to Belarus, and there are signs of trouble. As the US has made
clear many times, we have an overriding interest in a democratic Ukraine.

Ukraine is a country of nearly 50m people with great potential as a regional
leader and an example for the re-emerging states of the former Soviet Union
and the broader region. Indeed, this is a nation that has already made
valuable contributions to global security, including sending troops to Iraq.

The US views Ukraine as a friend and an increasingly valuable economic
and strategic partner, and the US government certainly support Ukraine's
sovereignty and future with the Euro-Atlantic community of free nations.
Indeed, we are committed to working with our partners and allies to help
Ukraine attain its declared goal of joining institutions such as Nato, the
European Union and the World Trade Organisation.

However, that vision ultimately depends on a Ukraine that is open and
democratic. Membership of those institutions - and the Organisation for
Security and Co-operation in Europe, to which Ukraine already belongs -
confers responsibilities and obligations to abide by democratic and human
rights norms and standards, not least of which is conducting a free and fair
election and accompanying campaign.

Unfortunately, as Ukrainians prepare to go to the polls to choose their
third president since attaining independence in 1991, the election campaign
has already fallen far short of the standards the international community
expects - and the Ukrainian people deserve.

But it is not too late. Ukrainian authorities can put an end to the
violations that have plagued the campaign, such as disruption of opposition
rallies, stifling of independent media and misuse of administrative
resources - all of which have created an uneven playing field. Past abuses
and their negative impact cannot be ignored, but ending them immediately
would help return Ukraine to international election standards.

Of course, fair and transparent conduct of elections and accurate tabulation
of the results will also help determine the democratic credentials of the
next Ukrainian president.

To be sure, the US does not have a vote in this election; it is up to the
Ukrainian people to decide who should lead them into the future. And when
they do, we will work with whoever they elect - as long as the victor is
chosen through a free and honest process. Indeed, we stand with the people
of Ukraine.

I visited Kiev earlier this year to underscore the commitment of my
government and the American people to a vibrant, democratic Ukraine. I
carried with me a message from President George W. Bush, and it is a
message that has been echoed by colleagues both inside and outside the US
government: a free and fair election will deepen Ukraine's relationship with
Europe and its institutions. A bad election, on the other hand, will force
us to re-examine our relationship, especially with individuals who engage in
election fraud and manipulation.

We look to the current government of Ukraine to ensure that Ukrainians truly
have the opportunity to choose their next leader. Leonid Kuchma, the
president, has a chance to capture for his country the full promise of free
elections. He can demonstrate to Ukraine's people, to its neighbours and to
the world how to serve out his term and transfer power with dignity, through
a peaceful, proper electoral process. We hope the Ukrainian government
takes this advice from a friend who wishes the best for Ukraine and its
people. -30- [The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The writer is deputy US Secretary of State, Washington, D.C.
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.203: ARTICLE NUMBER FOUR
Your comments about the Report are always welcome
========================================================
4. "UKRAINIAN ELECTION"

Irish Times, Ireland, Friday, October 29, 2004

Without Ukraine, Russia cannot be an imperial power, according to the
Polish-American geopolitical theorist and former national security adviser
to President Jimmy Carter, Zbigniew Brzezinski. With it, Russia has the
potential to become one again.

His remark comes to mind as President Putin began a three day visit to
Ukraine ahead of Sunday's first round of the presidential elections there,
to attend a military ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of the
Red Army's relief of the country from Nazi occupation.

The election, to replace the ten year rule of Mr Leonid Kuchma, pits the
equally Russophile prime minister, Mr Viktor Yanukovych, against a liberal
and pro-Western candidate, Mr Viktor Yushchenko.

Mr Putin openly favours Mr Yanukovych, who has campaigned on a
programme of building closer relations with Russia, including dual
citizenship and more integrated energy supplies. Under Mr Putin, Russia
has cancelled Ukraine's energy debts and reached agreements on long
term supply of oil and gas.

In the Polish parliament a former head of the country's intelligence said on
Wednesday that "we are facing a restoration of the Russian empire through
economic means and with the principle: yesterday tanks, today oil". This
reflects a widespread concern in central and eastern Europe about the
direction of Mr Putin's policies.

It is shared in Washington, which is worried by Mr Kuchma's decision last
summer to abandon the objective of joining NATO. Mr Yushchenko, who
campaigns in favour of eventual Ukrainian membership of the European Union,
has widespread support in the western part of Ukraine, whereas his rival's
main base is in the eastern part of the vast country with its 50 million
population, where there is a large Russian-speaking minority.

By all accounts this election is running close. Opinion polls show a 50-50
division of opinion. There have been many reports of dirty tricks,
irregularly subsidised campaigning and media manipulation, as well as strong
involvement of well-known Russian, European and US figures.

Ominously, Mr Kuchma has been warning of possible violence if the result is
disputed by the opposition and hinting that action would be taken against
them. Assuming the election goes to a second round on November 22nd, a
lot more international attention will be directed at Ukraine.

While opinion there is sharply polarised, many Ukrainians also resist
either/or choices between eastern or western identities and alignments. But
like Poland before it, Ukraine seems destined to be a cockpit of such
geopolitical conflict in coming years. -30-
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.203: ARTICLE NUMBER FIVE
========================================================
5. PUTIN ROLE IN KIEV'S TIMELY SHOW OF FORCE IS DENOUNCED

Askold Krushelnycky in Kiev, The Independent
London, United Kingdom, Friday, Oct 29, 2004

KIEV - A SOVIET-STYLE military parade shut down the streets of Kiev
yesterday as Ukraine entered the final stretch of a tense election campaign
marred by allegations of dirty tricks and intimidation tactics. The
West-leaning opposition has accused the government of flooding the capital
with uniformed soldiers to scare off their support and to use force against
planned mass demonstrations in the event of electoral fraud.

Watching the parade alongside the Prime Minister and presidential hopeful,
Viktor Yanukovych, was Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader used the show
of force as an occasion for some high-profile campaigning on behalf of the
pro-Moscow candidate.

The parade itself - to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Ukraine's
liberation from the Nazis - was brought forward by a week, without
explanation, and overshadows the last 72 hours of the campaign.

Supporters of Viktor Yushchenko, leader of the pro-Western democratic
coalition, say they have a real chance of winning and that has prompted the
military presence. "On the day of voting there will be several tens of
thousands of men in uniforms near Kiev," said Mr Yushchenko, "or has the
government even forgotten the date on which Kiev was liberated?"

Mr Yushchenko is running neck and neck in the polls with Mr Yanukovych, the
chosen successor of the incumbent, Leonid Kuchma, and the vote is seen as a
watershed for Ukrainians. Most independent observers believe the opposition
leader would win a fair election by a clear margin.

Observers say the result will determine whether Kiev charts a course towards
democracy and the West or goes down the more authoritarian route of Russia
and Belarus.

A bitter campaign has been fought against a backdrop of bomb explosions and
opposition supporters being beaten and detained. The latest scandal has
arisen after the opposition claimed that some of its members were attacked
by police masquerading as skinheads at a rally. The assailants were found to
have police identification cards and pistols.

Mr Yushchenko is the head of a liberal and centre-right coalition and is
promising democratic reforms to fight endemic corruption. He also advocates
EU and Nato membership.

Mr Yanukovych is the successor chosen by the outgoing President Kuchma
who has been largely isolated internationally due to accusations of
corruption, authoritarianism, and human-rights abuses. He is avowedly pro-
Russian and supports Mr Putin's plan to create a Moscow-led economic zone
comprising their two countries, Belarus and Kazakhstan. The opposition calls
it a plan to recreate the USSR.

Mr Putin was at yesterday's rally on the last day of a three-day visit that
outraged the opposition which said it was a flagrant attempt to boost the
chances of Mr Yanukovych. Alongside the two leaders was Belarus's Stalinist
President Alexander Lukashenka who bolstered his own powers a fortnight
ago in sham elections.

On the first evening of his visit, Mr Putin appeared on three government-
controlled television channels to praise Mr Yanukovych's economic policies.
He also promised that Ukrainian citizens will be able to travel to Russia
without passports - an electoral present that will win the approval of
millions of ethnic Russians in Ukraine.

Forming a new economic bloc has become one of Moscow's top priorities,
and Ukraine - bigger than France and with 50 million people - is vital to
the plan. Yurko Pavlenko, an opposition MP, said: "It's disgusting that the
Ukrainian government, knowing its candidate will lose in any fair contest,
needs to enlist the help of the Russian President."

Many ordinary people also disapproved. Oleksander, an office worker,
was certain the visit was designed to influence the election: "It's
dishonourable for Russia to intrude at this time. It reminds people of the
times when Ukraine was a colony in Russia's empire."

The deputy president of the European Parliament, Janusz Onyszkiewicz,
said: "The level of interference of some circles in Russia in the elections
is something deplorable. It is not for other countries to indicate which
candidate would be better."

The opposition fears there will be major efforts to rig the election. The
EU, the US and the OECD have expressed concern at government tactics.
The government has prevented opposition access to mass media and has
tried to shut down the only television station sympathetic to Mr Yushchenko.
=======================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.203 ARTICLE NUMBER SIX
Additional names for the distribution list are always welcome
========================================================
6. UKRAINIAN CANDIDATE VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO VOWS
TO PROTEST ANY VOTING FRAUD

By Halia Pavliva, Bloomberg Newsroom
New York, New York, Thursday, October 27, 2004

NEW YORK ------------ Ukrainian presidential candidate
Viktor Yushchenko, who polls show is the frontrunner to succeed
Leonid Kuchma, said he'll urge supporters to stage protests on any
signs of electoral fraud in the vote beginning Oct. 31.

Yushchenko, 50, Ukraine's prime minister from 2000 to 2001,
says he was poisoned during the campaign. International observers
from the European Union and other groups will monitor the election
amid accusations by opposition parties that Kuchma's
administration will try to prevent a fair vote.

``We can change the current circumstances only by massive
public action,'' said Yushchenko in an interview in his office in
Kiev. ``And in case of attempts to falsify the outcome of the
vote, I will be calling on the nation to do that.''

Ukraine, the world's sixth-biggest producer of wheat and
second-biggest exporter of coke, is also the conduit for gas and
oil exported from Russia to the rest of Europe. Russia supplies
about a quarter of the gas consumed in western Europe and has
agreed to use Ukrainian pipelines through 2013.

With a population of 47 million, Ukraine ranked 122 out of 145
countries in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions
Index for 2004, trailing Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe. Human Rights
Watch said Kuchma's administration "blatantly violates freedom of
expression'' in the media. The International Monetary Fund hasn't
lent Ukraine money since 2001, when the fund said Kuchma's
government failed to honor its agreements.

POLL LEAD
In the election for the third Ukrainian president since the
country won independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Yushchenko
would win 34 percent of the vote, according to a poll conducted in
the first two weeks of September by the Democratic Initiatives
Foundation and the Socios Center. Current Prime Minister Viktor
Yanukovych, 54, would take 28 percent, the poll found.

Yushchenko would win 43 percent of the vote in a second
round, while Yanukovych would get 36 percent, the poll of 2,000
respondents showed. The poll, conducted nationwide between Sept.
1 and Sept. 16, had a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points. The
second round of balloting will be held at least two weeks from
Oct. 31 if no candidate wins a majority.

Yushchenko and his supporters accuse the government of trying
to prevent him from campaigning and poisoning him. Yushchenko fell
ill in September and was treated in Austria. Ukraine's Prosecutor
General office closed a two-week investigation, saying it didn't
have any proof he was poisoned. Yushchenko's face is still swollen
and his skin is damaged. The government denies any wrongdoing.

PROTEST MARCHES
In Kiev, the country's wealthiest city with a population of 3
million, as many as 100,000 people marched through the city center
in support of Yushchenko on Oct. 22. His opponent Yanukovych is
seeking a special ruling from the Central Electoral Committee to
ban street protests on the day of the election, according to 5
Kanal television, the country's only independent broadcaster,
which is threatened by closure by the government.

"The nation is at a very important point and the best choice
would be to let it choose,'' Yushchenko said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday praised Yanukovych
for his record in promoting economic growth, calling him and
Kuchma his "friends.'' While saying he regrets the collapse of the
Soviet Union, Putin, 52, called any attempts to restore the former
superpower "counterproductive'' and said there's no plan for the
re-unification of former Soviet republics.

INVESTIGATION PROMISED
Yushchenko said he would investigate Kuchma's administration,
which he and other opposition politicians accuse of involvement in
the murder of journalists and illegal sales of state assets,
should he win the election. Kuchma denies the accusations.

"I'm convinced that people must know the truth, including
the case of Georgy Gongadze,'' an independent journalist whose
headless body was found in forest near Kiev in 2000, Yushchenko
said. ``I won't be trying to stop legal processes that would give
true answers to one or another of questions.''

Yushchenko also said he would withdraw Ukrainian troops that
are serving in Iraq following the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, a
move that is also supported by Yanukovych.

The IMF predicts that Ukraine's $50 billion economy will grow
as much as 12.5% this year, the fifth consecutive year of
expansion, supported by rising domestic demand and gains in prices
of commodity exports including metals and coke.

Ukraine, which was the world's sixth-biggest exporter of
wheat in 2002, expects to begin exporting as much as 9 million
metric tons of grain again this year after losing most of its 2003
crop to bad weather.

KUCHMA'S CANDIDATE
Kuchma, 66, is backing Yanukovych after deciding not to run
for a third five-year term. Kuchma took office in 1994, promising
to make Russian the official language of Ukraine, which borders
Russia to the east, Belarus to the north and Slovakia, Poland and
Moldova to the west and south.

Yushchenko was ousted as prime minister in 2001 by parliament
with Kuchma's backing. He set up Our Ukraine, a group of
opposition parties that won parliamentary elections in March 2002
and remains the largest group in the 450-seat parliament. In
Ukraine, the president nominates the prime minister and most of
the government and the parliament approves or reject the requests.

Yushchenko won praise from the IMF, World Bank and EU for
his efforts to cut bureaucracy, reduce corruption and improve
relations with other nations during his term as prime minister.

He said in the interview he would speed up asset sales, cut
taxes and consider rescheduling some government debts to help
sustain economic growth and improve living standards if elected.

"For me and my government, the most important thing will be
not how to get back to 1991 and start privatization from scratch,
but how to improve relations between the state and business,''
Yushchenko said. "There should be new rules of conduct. Business
should trust the government and the government should secure the
rule of law.'' -30- [Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
To contact the reporter on this story: Halia Pavliva at 7(095) 771 77 12
or hpavliva@bloomberg.net.
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.203: ARTICLE NUMBER SEVEN
Suggested articles for publication in the Report are always welcome
========================================================
7. VIKTOR YANUKOVYCH THANKS POLICEMEN INVOLVED IN
CLASHES WITH SUPPORTERS OF VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO

Ukrayina TV, Donetsk, Ukraine, in Russian, 28 Oct 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Thu, October 28, 2004

DONETSK - Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych has thanked
policemen involved in clashes with supporters of opposition presidential
candidate Viktor Yushchenko outside the Central Electoral Commission in
Kiev last weekend. The Ukrayina television, based in Yanukovych's home
Donetsk Region, showed him visiting injured policemen in hospital and
awarding one of them a watch.

He also talked to officers of a special police unit who, the opposition
said, attacked a peaceful pro-Yushchenko crowd with bottles and
hammers, disguised as civilians. The following is the text of a report by
the Ukrainian regional TV channel Ukrayina on 28 October:

[Presenter] Ukrainian Prime Minister [Viktor Yanukovych] has called on
citizens to express their opinions on ballot papers and not to succumb to
acts of provocation. Viktor Yanukovych was speaking at a meeting with
foreign journalists, the Interfax news agency has reported. The prime
minister said he views actions by supporters of presidential candidate
Viktor Yushchenko as pressure on the Central Electoral Commission
[CEC] and society.

It should be recalled that a number of incidents occurred outside the CEC
building on the evening of 23 October, after a rally attended by Viktor
Yushchenko. At first stones were thrown at the commission's windows, to
be followed by clashes in which civilians suffered.

About a dozen law enforcers were injured in clashes between members of
parliament and police inside the CEC building. Law-enforcement agencies
have instituted four criminal cases on charges of hooliganism and violence
against police officers.

The prime minister paid a visit to injured law enforcers, who are undergoing
treatment at the hospital of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's main
directorate. Viktor Yanukovych inquired about their health, wished them a
speedy recovery and wellbeing for their families.

The prime minister also debriefed the commander of the Berkut [special
police] regiment, Dmytro Silyakov, and officers of the Tytan [special police
unit], Serhiy Aksenyuk and Viktor Kondoray, about the events outside the
CEC.

[Yanukovych, awarding a watch to a plain-clothes police officer in hospital,
in Ukrainian] Keep commanding [the regiment] and do all you can to make
sure that the law reigns in Ukraine.
[Officer] We will do it.
[Yanukovych] Good health to you.
[Officer] Thanks a lot.
[Yanukovych] I am very grateful to you for not showing weakness. You would
have shown weakness if you had hit someone at that time.

[Counter reading 0830-1000. Video shows footage of clashes outside the
CEC, Yanukovych visiting men with short haircuts and in sweat suits in
hospital, talking to them, awarding one a watch.] -30-
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 203: ARTICLE NUMBER EIGHT
Letters to the editor are always welcome
========================================================
8. YUSHCHENKO LEADS IN LATEST PRESIDENTIAL POLL
Ukraine: Yushchenko 32%, Yanukovych 28%

Interfax-Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine, Thu, October 28, 2004

KIEV - Press Release from Razumkov Center: Four days before
the election Yushchenko leads in the presidential race and has the
largest changes of victory according to the poll by the Razumkov
Center.

This was the result of the opinion poll which was held by the socio-
logical service of the Razumkov Center in the period from October
23-26. 2,016 respondents older than 18 years old were asked from
121 settlements including big and small towns, villages, and settlements
in all regions of Ukraine. The error margin does not exceed 2.3%
excluding design effect.

The answers of the respondents to the question, "Whom are you going
to vote for next Sunday?" were split in the following way. Viktor Yush-
cenko, 32%, Viktor Yanukovych 28%, Olexander Moroz 8% and
Petro Symonenko 7%, Natalia Vitrenko 3%; Anatoly Kinach 2%.

The rest of the candidates would get less than 1% of votes, 4% of
respondents would vote against everybody, and 3% are sure they will
not vote on 31 October, 11% haven't made their choice yet.

According to the opinion poll, "if the second round of the presidential
election took place next Sunday and only two candidates would be
left, Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych," 40% of the
respondents would support Viktor Yushchenko, 36% would support
Viktor Yanukovych, 10% of respondents would vote against everybody,
4% are sure they would not vote, and 10% haven't made up their minds
yet.

Thus considering the votes of those in the first round who would
vote for other candidates, Viktor Yushchenko, at present, has the
largest chance at the presidential election according to the results
of the second round.

The peculiarity of this opinion poll by Razumkov Center which was
different from previous polls was having interviews with respondents
outside their residence in the street without mentioning the addresses
of the respondents.

This kind of private interviewing allowed the respondent to not be
afraid to speak sincerely about their electoral preferences.

People who took part in the poll were asked, "Do you believe that
some of your colleagues or acquaintances are going to vote for a
certain candidate in the election but are afraid to admit it to people
they don't know very well?" Some 22 per cent of those polled said
yes, 49 per cent said no, 29 per cent said it was difficult to say.

The 22% who said yes were asked additional questions. The poll
asked such people who they thought their colleagues and acquaintances
were actually going to vote for. The most frequent answer was
Yushchenko 43%, Petro Symonenko 8 per cent, Viktor Yanukovych
8 per cent, and Oleksandr Moroz 5 per cent, Natalia Vitrenko 1%;
Anatoly Kinach 1%, against everybody 2%, not going to vote 2%,
difficult to say 29%.

Press release is put out under commercial conditions. -30-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note from Interfax-Ukraine: The Interfax Agency reminds its subscribers
that mass media are not allowed to publish the results of opinion polls the
final two weeks of the election.
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.203: ARTICLE NUMBER NINE
========================================================
9. U.S. MISSION AT OSCE CALLS UPON UKRAINE GOVERNMENT
TO THROW ALL ITS WEIGHT INTO ENDING VIOLATIONS OF
DEMOCRATIC NORMS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

U.S. Mission to the OSCE, Vienna, Austria, Thursday, October 28, 2004

STATEMENT BY THE U.S. REPRESENTATIVE IN OSCE
ON UKRAINIAN ELECTION

VIENNA - The U.S. Mission to the OSCE in Vienna, expressing U.S.
Government concerns about the course of the Ukrainian presidential election
to date, today made the following statement:

"For several months, the United States has been closely following the
ongoing Ukrainian election campaign. We seek to assist Ukraine in becoming
a secure, independent, democratic, and prosperous country that integrates
with European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, respects human rights and the
rule of law, maintains mutually beneficial relations with its neighbors, and
helps strengthen international peace and security. Realization of this
vision would be in the interests of Ukraine, the United States, and all of
Europe.

In line with numerous statements from other countries and groups of
countries, the U.S. Government on numerous occasions during this period
both publicly and privately has expressed concerns about the conduct of the
presidential campaign. There have been numerous, well-publicized instances
of behavior violating internationally accepted democratic norms, including
disruption of opposition rallies, muzzling of independent media, misuse of
"administrative resources," ransacking of pro-democracy NGO offices and
employees' homes based on spurious charges, detention of pro-democracy
supporters, and other serious violations that cast doubt on the Ukrainian
government's will to uphold its democratic commitments.

Now, only days before the October 31 election, our concerns unfortunately
are only increasing. The Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
(ODIHR) on October 22 released its latest interim report, which outlines a
serious deterioration of the situation in recent weeks, including:

- Confirmed cases of involvement of the state administration in favor of one
candidate and against another major candidate;

- Instability and uncertainty at Precinct Election Commissions (PECs) due to
a large number of PEC members resigning or refusing to fulfill their duties;

- Continued failure by state-owned and allied media to provide impartial and
fair coverage of or access to opposition candidates' campaigns; and

- Officially-backed impediments to the activities of opposition campaign
activists and independent pro-democracy non-governmental organizations,
such as police stopping of buses carrying opposition supporters to rallies
and the recent detentions of civic activists on various politically
motivated charges.

These observations of the OSCE ODIHR mission are very much in line
with our own. In addition, we are increasingly concerned by reports
strongly indicating that government forces are behind numerous provocative
and violent acts, such as the beating of peaceful protesters by Ministry of
Interior employees the weekend of October 23-24.

At this juncture, we call upon the Government of Ukraine - even at this late
stage in the campaign - to throw all its weight into ending violations of
democratic norms. One of the most solemn responsibilities of any government
is to allow its citizens to express their political will freely and in a
fair manner. These principles are at the core of UN and OSCE commitments.

In particular, we urge that observers, both domestic and international, be
granted full access to the campaign and election-day processes. Most
importantly, we urge the Government of Ukraine to ensure that election-day
voting, vote tabulation and final registering of the results are conducted
according to OSCE standards in a transparent and peaceful manner. The
people of Ukraine deserve to have their voices heard, and we call on the
Government to remove any impediment to that end.

We sincerely hope that the Government of Ukraine will hold democratic
elections, so that relations between the United States and Ukraine can
deepen and the pace of Ukraine's integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions
can accelerate. If the election fails to meet international standards, a
variety of measures to hold officials responsible for electoral misconduct
accountable will be considered, and bilateral relations and integration into
Euro-Atlantic institutions will suffer." -30-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Affairs Section, United States Embassy Kyiv
4 Hlybochytska St., Kyiv 04050 Ukraine
(380 44) 490-4026, 490-4090, Fax (380 44) 490-4050
http://usembassy.kiev.ua, info@usembassy.kiev.ua
http://usembassy.kiev.ua/infocentral_eng.html
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.203: ARTICLE NUMBER TEN
========================================================
10. INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE FIELDS
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION MONITORING TEAM IN UKRAINE

IRI, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, October 29, 2004

KYIV - The International Republican Institute (IRI) has fielded and election
observation mission for the upcoming Presidential Election in Ukraine. The
30-member group includes observers from seven different countries and is led
co-led by British member of parliament Michael Trend and Judge Bohdan
Futey from the United States.

Most of the IRI Team arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday and were in briefing
sessions on Thursday. The team met with representatives of the Viktor
Yanukovych campaign, Viktor Yushchenko campaign and campaign of
Olexander Moroz. Team members will travel on Friday to their respective
election monitoring locations.

The IRI delegation will deploy in 10 different oblasts of Ukraine and the
election monitoring program is funded by the National Endowment for
Democracy (NED). IRI will issue a preliminary statement at a press
conference on Monday, November 1 at 12:00 noon at UNIAN News
Agency. The delegation will issue a final report on its observations in
early November.

The IRI Team is operating under the staff leadership of Stephen B.
Nix, Director for Eurasia, International Republican Institute (IRI).

IRI is a Washington-based NGO which promotes democracy worldwide
through its work with political parties. IRI has worked in Ukraine since
1992. -30- [The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.203: ARTICLE NUMBER ELEVEN
Additional names for the distribution list are always welcome
========================================================
11. UKRAINIAN STUDENTS UNION IN GERMANY PROTESTS

Ukrainian Students Union in Germany, Germany, Wed, Oct 27, 2004

GERMANY - Information about the campaign of the Ukrainian Students
Union in Germany against massive abuse of human and civil rights and
freedom of the press in Ukraine.

PLEASE SIGN!!!
The human and civil rights situation in Ukraine has become more unbearable
the last few years and especially the last few weeks and days. In response
to this, The Union of Ukrainian Students in Germany is organizing a campaign
to draw world's attention to this matter and to call upon the western press
for more exposure about the state of affairs in Ukraine.

In Germany there has been very little coverage of the Ukrainian presidential
elections, especially in the most recent weeks which have seen many shocking
events. The last democratic principles are being deliberately destroyed in
Ukraine. In the meantime the western world, which so strongly seeks out to
support democracy globally, chooses to ignore this.

This presidential election will distinguish Ukraine as either a country
moving towards the west: democratic and economically advancing, with
hope of one day joining the EU or as a country rooted in the east: leading
to further stagnation, political isolation, deep-rooted civil and human-
rights abuses. Before the next president of Ukraine is elected on October
31st 2004, we want to take a stand against the repeated abuse of human
rights, and against the ignorance, inaccuracy and one media on these
matters.

THERE HAS BEEN SILENCE LONG ENOUGH!
We can no longer keep quiet because the government of Ukraine today
attacks peaceful demonstrators with hammers and knifes, deploying for this
purpose the national militia against its own people, for whom it was
originally created to protect. If today they resort to such brutal methods,
what should we expect tomorrow!?!

We appeal to you to join our campaign, because we can all contribute to
making the world a more just place tomorrow.

This petition is going to be sent to numerous authorities, institutions,
organizations and mass media. Among others are UN, European Parliament,
European Council, European Commission and Deutscher Bundestag.

We thank you for your support!
The Union of Ukrainian Students in Germany
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINK to Petition: http://www.sus-n.org/petition/
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.203: ARTICLE NUMBER TWELVE
========================================================
12. "LETTER IN SUPPORT OF DEMOCRACY IN UKRAINE"

Dr. Yaroslav Hrytsak, Lviv University
New York, New York, Wed, October 27, 2004

We, members of the international community of intellectuals, are
deeply alarmed by the state of affairs in Ukraine on the eve of the
presidential elections. The latest news from Ukraine leaves no doubt
that the country's authorities have engaged in mass violations of voter
rights, manipulations of the law, and abuses of power.

What worries us most is that one of the biggest targets of persecution
are the many students who have spoken out and demonstrated against
what has been occurring. Meanwhile, government officials have flagrantly
pressured Ukrainian universities and other academic institutions to curb
democratic student activities. Freedom of expression and free elections
are cornerstones of democracy, public activity, and academic life.

Therefore we condemn all attempts at limiting these rights and attacks
on democratic and corporate rights and freedoms in Ukraine.

We are in solidarity with all Ukrainian citizens who have stood up to
defend their rights and freedoms. Therefore we shall devote all our
efforts to disseminating information about the electoral abuses and
violations of human rights in Ukraine to information agencies, the mass
media, governments, political and human-rights organizations, and
academic communities throughout the world.

Today a major front line in the international struggle for democracy
runs through Ukraine. We call upon all intellectuals there and throughout
the world to do everything possible to defend your and our freedom.

Olena Dzhedzhora (Ukrainian Catholic University, Lviv)
George Grabowicz (Harvard University)
Mark von Hagen (Columbia University)
Olia Hnatiuk (Warsaw University)
Yaroslav Hrytsak (Lviv University)
Volodymyr Kravchenko (Kharkiv University)
Volodymyr Kulyk (Institute of Political and Ethno-National Research,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine)
John Micgiel (Columbia University)
Andriy Mokrousov ("Krytyka" monthly review, Kyiv)
Mykola Riabchuk (independent writer, Kyiv)
Roman Senkus (Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, Toronto Office)
Frank Sysyn (University of Alberta)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Hrytsak is a professor at Lviv National University and director of
the Institute for Historical Research there. He has also taught at the
Central European University and is now a visiting professor at Columbia
University. hrytsak@ceu.hu; yh2187@columbia.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTE: Our special thanks to Roman Senkus, Director, CIUS
Publications Program www.utoronto.ca/cius; Managing Editor,
www.encyclopediaofukraine.com; Canadian Institute of Ukrainian
Studies, Toronto Office, University of Toronto, 1 Spadina Crescent,
Room 109, Toronto, ON, M5S 2J5, Canada, for the excellent job
he does in distributing important information about a wide variety
of Ukrainian subjects and events. [EDITOR]
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.203: ARTICLE NUMBER THIRTEEN
Checks to support The Action Ukraine Report are always welcome
========================================================
13. NEW WEBSITE "GLOBALVOTE2004 UKRAINE" LAUNCHED

GlobalVote2004 Ukraine, Youth Civic Movement PORA!
Ukraine, Thursday, October 28, 2004

DEAR FRIEND!
On the 31 October 2004 people in Ukraine - a nation of 48 million in the
centre of Europe - will go to the polling stations to elect new President.
By all counts it is the most crucial election in recent Ukrainian history
and it will have an impact not only internally but also on the regional and
European scale.

Now you can also participate! A youth civic movement PORA! is pleased
to announce a launch of the website GlobalVote2004 Ukraine
(http://kuchmizm.info/GlobalVote2004) where anyone can cast a vote for
the favourite candidate in the Ukrainian Presidential elections 2004. You
have a chance now to express your opinion and attitude to the processes
taking place in this European country!

Please spread this information and thus help raise awareness of the
importance and the outcomes this election will have for Europe's future.

Regards, GlobalVote2004 Ukraine
Youth Civic Movement PORA!
Website link: http://kuchmizm.info/GlobalVote2004
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.203: ARTICLE NUMBER FOURTEEN
Checks to support The Action Ukraine Report are always welcome
========================================================
14. OUR VOICE IN SOLIDARITY WITH STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS
OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF "KYIV-MOHYLA ACADEMY"

Ukrainian Student Association at the University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, Wed, October 27, 2004

URBANA-CHAMPAIGN - We have received sad news from a
number of students and institutions from Ukraine about the All-
Ukrainian Students' Rally on Saturday, October 16, 2004, which
discussed problems pertaining to the incoming presidential election
in Ukraine.

The rally, attended by nearly twenty-two thousand students, that
took place next to the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla
Academy" was the target of police provocation and intimidation.
The next day (Sunday, October 17) the police even attempted to
conduct a search of the University. The government authorities also
attempted to close the university's TV station (Channel 5) without
any legal reason.

The Ukrainian Student Association at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign highly supports the democratic rights of the
students of Ukraine to publicly express their civic opinion and to
support, as well as vote, for the presidential candidate of their
choice.

We also condemn the undemocratic and dictatorial behaviour of
government authorities of Ukraine in their attempt to thwart the
constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression and news
network in Ukraine. We condemn the harassment of students and
the police's illegal searches of university institutions.

We are in full solidarity with the students of Ukraine in their rights
to open public discourse and support their professors in refusing
illegal searches and intrusions at the National University of
"Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" which educates patriotic citizens and
scientists of their country.

Chrystia Hanowsky, President, Ukrainian Student Association
at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign -30-
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.203: ARTICLE NUMBER FIFTEEN
Checks to support The Action Ukraine Report are always welcome
========================================================
15. "FEAR AND POLITICS AT KIEV WAR PARADE"
President Vladimir Putin watched a Soviet-style military parade

By Francesca Mereu, Staff Writer
Moscow Times, Moscow, Russia, Friday, October 29, 2004

KIEV -- Three days ahead of Sunday's presidential election, Ukrainians
celebrated the 60th anniversary of Kiev's liberation from Nazi Germany in
an atmosphere of tight security, Soviet-style pomp and highly charged
last-minute political campaigning.

President Vladimir Putin watched a Soviet-style military parade, continuing
his high-profile support for Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych in the race.
Yanukovych, Kuchma's chosen successor, is running neck-and-neck with
pro-Western liberal candidate Viktor Yushchenko, a former prime minister
and Central Bank chairman.

Putin stood alongside Yanukovych and outgoing Ukrainian President Leonid
Kuchma as thousands of Ukrainian soldiers dressed in World War II uniforms
marched in formation with Soviet flags and tanks along Khreshchatyk, central
Kiev's main thoroughfare.

All the streets surrounding Khreshchatyk were closed off, and access to
Independence Square, where the viewing stand for the parade was located,
was severely restricted. Security service sharpshooters were in place around
the parade route, with orders to shoot at anyone suspicious. Hotel residents
were told not to watch the parade from their balconies, and even to keep
their drapes closed.

A group of about 40 World War II veterans looked on deeply moved, as honor
guards atop a vintage T-34 tank held the Soviet hammer-and-sickle flag that
had fluttered over the Reichstag to mark the fall of Berlin in May 1945. The
flag was brought from Moscow last week amid tight security.

During the parade, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, one of three CIS leaders in
Kiev for the celebrations, stood some distance away from Putin, who stood
between Kuchma and Yanukovych, chatting with both. The head of the Russian
presidential administration, Dmitry Medvedev, stood between his Ukrainian
counterpart, Viktor Medvedchuk, and Yanukovych.

"I like Putin very much, but I don't like that he came here now before the
elections," said Nina, a 54-year-old biology teacher. "We know whom he
supports -- this is too much. We are getting too much information about
Yanukovych. I got three letters from him this week. I'm sick of it."

Over the course of a half-hour, a television crew on Kiev's Independence
Square inviting passersby to voice their support for one candidate or
another received many pledges of support for Yushchenko, but none for
Yanukovych.

"Kiev is for Yushchenko," shouted an old woman, waving a Ukrainian flag.
"Russia is interfering too much," said Alexander Vashenko, 60. "Putin is the
Antichrist, he is enemy No. 1." Vashenko was one of an estimated 100,000
people who marched in Kiev last Saturday in support of Yushchenko and to
call for a clean election.

"Traffic police set up roadblocks on the outskirts of Kiev, preventing
dozens of cars from entering the capital," Vashenko said. "Otherwise there
would have been even more people here."

Alexander Dergachyov, editor of the online newspaper Transparent Policy, a
project financed by the Soros Foundation, said that Russian authorities were
planning to open polling stations all over the country to allow some 4
million Ukrainians living in Russia to vote. The Ukrainian opposition has
protested that the polling stations in Russia could be used to add false
votes for Yanukovych.

"So many frauds are planned, but the bulk of it will happen in Russia,"
Dergachyov said. "Yanukovych can easily get 2 million votes there." Many
young people have complained that their names are not on the lists of
registered voters, and the opposition has claimed that voter rolls also
contain the names of dead people.

Kiev journalist Volodymyr Ivakhnenko said the authorities had printed a lot
more ballots than would be needed. "It is normal that thousands of extra
ballots are printed, but this number is too much," he said. "The talk is
that millions of extra ballots have been printed, and that many of them are
likely to go to Russia."

Margarita, a resident of the Sumskaya region in northeast Ukraine, said the
authorities there are paying people for their votes. "Campaigners will
receive 400 hryvnas ($90) for every 10 people they get to vote for
Yanukovych. Those who vote for him will receive 20 hryvnas. Is it possible
to allow things like this to happen?"

The anniversary parade was moved forward from Nov. 6 to Thursday in
what the opposition said was an election ploy -- or worse, preparation for
a military crackdown. The opposition fears that, under cover of the parade,
troops were brought to Kiev to crack down on the opposition.

"Something is brewing," said Oleg Bondarenko, 24, a Yushchenko campaign
worker wearing an Our Ukraine bloc orange ribbon. "I know this country. All
these soldiers is not a good sign."

Volodymyr Polokhalo, an analyst at the Institute of World Economy and
International Relations at the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, said many
people were afraid that violence could erupt from the bitterly fought
election.

"People are afraid that there will be a lot of provocations against
Yushchenko," he said. "Russian spin doctors have no principles. Western
observers are unlikely to understand how the fraud works here. It is
difficult for people used to living in democratic countries to understand
it."

Some 600 foreign election observers are expected to monitor the vote
throughout the country, but Polokhalo said he feared that Europe could
recognize the results of a potentially fraudulent election. Ahead of
Thursday's parade, both government and opposition leaders were warning
of possible violence, but none occurred. -30-
========================================================
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