Ukraine in Political Turmoil

Victor Yushchenko may have overcome Russian political interference and dioxin poisoning to win the 2004 Orange Revolution in dramatic fashion but he may now be losing the political war of attrition to hold on to power in Ukraine. On Monday night, Yushchenko, as President of Ukraine, ordered the dissolution of his country's single-chamber parliament, the Rada, to make way for elections in late May. However, the Rada, dominated by his opponents, refused to follow the order and the controversy is now headed for the country's Constitutional Court. In almost theatrical fashion, the man standing to benefit from it all is Yushchenko's nemesis, Victor Yanukovych, the man defeated in what the West hailed as a great victory for democracy. Ironically, Yanukovych has used all the instruments of Ukrainian politics and democracy to undo Yushchenko's authority.