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Monday, Nov 29, 2004

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International

Crisis triggers revolt in Ukraine's regions

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, NOV. 28. The political crisis in Ukraine triggered by a controversial presidential poll, is provoking a revolt in pro-Russian regions which threaten to split off.

Nearly 4,000 members of regional legislatures and municipal councils from 17 eastern and southern regions gathered in the industrial centre of Severdonetsk on Sunday to voice support for the Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovich, whose victory in the November 21 presidential election is disputed by the Opposition.

Speaking at the forum, the Governor of the Donetsk region, Anatoly Bliznyuk, called for setting up a "new federative state in the form of a South-Eastern Republic with Kharkov as its capital," if the Opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko, is declared President. He proposed holding referendums on the issue in the regions represented at the meeting. Ukraine's industrial south-east, which accounts for 80 per cent of the country's GDP, overwhelmingly voted for Mr. Yanukovich.

The Election Commission had named Mr. Yanukovich the winner of the presidential race, but the Ukrainian Parliament on Saturday called for overturning the vote because of large-scale violations. Several pro-Opposition western regions have declared Mr. Yushchenko the President and refused to obey the Government.

`An option'

The south-eastern regions unanimously adopted a resolution recognising Mr. Yanukovich as the legitimate President-elect. The meeting stopped short of embracing calls for independence, but warned this remained an option.

"If an illegitimate President comes to power, the congress participants retain the right to take adequate action to defend the interests of people," the resolution said.

The Prime Minister, who attended the regional forum, said the Opposition had pushed the country to the brink of catastrophe, but urged calm and restraint. The Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, flew to Severodonetsk in a show of solidarity with Ukraine's Russian-speaking regions.

The delegates decided to set up a Council of Regions to coordinate their joint actions.

Ukraine's Security Council denounced as illegal calls for setting up autonomies at a meeting called by the President, Leonid Kuchma, today.

It also called for an end to the Opposition blockade of Government buildings, but warned against using force against protestors.

On Monday, the Supreme Court will begin hearing an Opposition appeal against the election results.

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