Ukraine opposition send election warning to foreign leaders
The opposition candidate in Ukraine’s disputed presidential elections today urged foreign leaders to refrain from backing any candidate in the re-run of the vote.
In a clear warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko said other countries should only intervene to help ensure the December 26 ballot is free and fair.
The vote is a re-run of the run-off between Mr Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who was backed firmly by President Putin ahead of his fraud-tainted victory on November 21.
Interviewed by BBC 1’s Breakfast with Frost, Mr Yushchenko said: “The election of the President of Ukraine is exclusively an internal issue for 47 million Ukrainians.”
Speaking through an interpreter, he said: “I’m calling on all our international partners and neighbours to recognise one thing, that only the people of Ukraine could resolve this issue, and their opinion should be respected …
“I wouldn’t recommend to anyone in the international community to try to lend such a support to any one candidate.”
Buoyed by a landmark Supreme Court ruling which branded Mr Yanukovych’s victory as fraudulent, Mr Yushchenko has urged international observers to return in full force despite the Christmas holiday to help Ukraine hold a clean election.
The disputed ballot have highlighted deep cultural and political divisions in Ukraine between the pro-Yushchenko west with its nationalist and pro-Western leanings, and the Russian-speaking east, which favours Mr Yanukovych and treasures close ties with Moscow.
Mr Yushchenko dismissed a suggestion that Ukraine was facing possible disintegration.
“I think that it is a completely wrong view to think that Ukraine is divided into west and east. Ukraine is not divided either by geography or language or religion …
“No one should even think that Ukraine is losing its territorial sovereignty or integrity.”
Asked about allegations that his opponents had tried to poison him during the original contest, he said: “Regarding my poisoning, I was expecting something like that, for me it was just a matter of time.
“The issue of security in general, and my security as well, are becoming one of the most topical issues for the elections of December 26.
“But I don’t believe that any of the numerous threats against my life, which I hear or receive in the mail, will be successful.”
