Latest Articles about Europe's East

BEHIND UKRAINE’S POLITICAL CRISIS (PART 2)

The Orange Revolution and subsequent election of President Viktor Yushchenko showed that Ukrainian society wanted "change." But as the Economist (September 8) pointed out, the "Orange Revolution promised much but has so far delivered little." Indeed, Ukrainians believe that, eight months into Yushchenko's presidency, there... MORE

BEHIND UKRAINE’S POLITICAL CRISIS (Part 1)

The removal of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's government on September 8 came as a surprise in Ukraine, as it had not been accused of corruption until days earlier. On September 5 the outgoing head of the presidential secretariat, Oleksandr Zinchenko, had raised such accusations against... MORE

UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER DESIGNATE PROMISES STABILITY

Revolutionary passions in Kyiv should give way to pragmatism after the departure of Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was fired on September 8. President Viktor Yushchenko has made it clear that he will ask parliament to approve caretaker prime minister Yuriy Yekhanurov as his... MORE

GAZPROM’S NEW EUROPEAN ROUTE: CRY UKRAINE?

Russian President Vladimir Putin's brief visit to Berlin last week was not only perfectly timed for the German elections but also loaded accordingly: He delivered a valuable gift to his ally, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, and made a pro-forma introduction to the opposition leader, Angela Merkel.... MORE

YUSHCHENKO FINALLY ACTS TO CLEAN UP HIS GOVERNMENT

Yesterday, September 8, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko fired his government and removed top officials accused of corruption. Oleksandr Zinchenko, the former head of the presidential secretariat, had leveled the startling corruption charges four days earlier after resigning on September 2 (see EDM, September 8). The... MORE

POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF UKRAINE’S GAS SUPPLY PROBLEMS

President Viktor Yushchenko's September 7 decision to dismiss Yulia Tymoshenko's government will certainly affect Ukraine's crucial gas trade with Russia. Gas supply problems fraught with political complications are looming in Ukraine on the threshold of the heating-and-election season. The ruling coalition's prospects in the March... MORE

DIVISION OPENS IN UKRAINIAN LEADERSHIP: WILL YUSHCHENKO FALL IN?

It was no secret that the alliance that brought Viktor Yushchenko to power in Ukraine had its disagreements. The alliance, forged in the second round of the 2004 presidential elections, consisted of an eclectic group that ranged from socialists through liberal businessmen, moderate conservatives, and... MORE

YUSHCHENKO WANTS TO ERECT NEW BARRIER FOR RIVALS

Preparations for next spring's parliamentary election have de facto started in Ukraine, as President Viktor Yushchenko came up with a proposal for raising the barrier that parties and blocs of parties will have to overcome to get into the legislature. This plan should further weaken... MORE

BELARUS: THE LAST SUMMER OF THE OPPOSITION

The apocalyptic phrase "last summer of the opposition" was the title of an article by Dmitry Drigailo, which prognosticated that after the 2006 presidential elections in Belarus, the political opposition would cease to exist. Either it will come to power or "it will be taken... MORE