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Court orders re-vote in Ukraine

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, DEC. 3. Ukraine's Supreme Court has overturned the result of the disputed Presidential run-off of November 21 and ordered a re-vote on December 26.

After mulling over the verdict for more than seven hours on Friday, Ukraine's apex court ruled that "the results of the second round of voting are invalid" because "violations of law took place and the Central Election Commission broke a number of legal acts."

The court verdict, which comes amid large-scale protests in the capital Kiev by Opposition supporters, represents a major victory to the Opposition candidate, Viktor Yushchenko, and the West, which supported him. The Opposition had appealed against the victory of the Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovich, alleging massive rigging.

Mr. Yanukovich, backed by the outgoing President, Leonid Kuchma, and Russia, called for a brand-new election in Ukraine. This would have given a chance to put forward a new pro-Government candidate who could offer credible challenge to Mr. Yushchenko. A re-vote of the second round of elections is likely to bring victory to Mr. Yushchenko. It will also perpetuate a deep split in Ukraine between the south-eastern regions, which supported Mr. Yanukovich, and the west, which backed Mr. Yushchenko. The two candidates came neck-to-neck in the first round and Mr. Yanukovich won the run-off with a margin of less than 3 per cent.

The south-east has threatened to form an autonomy from Kiev if the Opposition leader becomes Ukraine's next President.

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