| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
A Battle to My Death
// The price of the question
Events in Ukraine are reminiscent of the argument between the optimist and the pessimist. “It can't get any worse,” the pessimist said. “Oh, it can! It can!” beamed the optimist.
Developments of recent months have left many observers with the sense that the world is ending in Kiev. It was the end when Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko decided to dissolve the Supreme Rada and hold early elections. Modest hope that the country would begin to pull itself out of the crisis appeared when the opposing sides made peace over the elections. Then the optimists came to the forefront again and it got worse – a lot worse.
Looking at the long-range tendencies, today's battle of decrees, exchanges of threats and fistfights and headbashings in front of high officials' offices is not the low point; the bottom has not yet been reached. More precisely, it is not in excess. But excess is ahead. When the current conflict between the president and the Rada began, many drew a parallel between at that moment and Russia in October 1993. We all remember how the conflict in Moscow between the branches of power turned out. Of course, it was then pointed out strenuously that Ukraine is not Russia. But one big stipulation has to be made: Ukraine is not Russia yet. No one in Ukraine is shielded against events such as those that occurred nearly 15 years ago in Russia – not Yushchenko, not Prime Minster Viktor Yanukovich, and not the groups of MPs, police and oligarchs that stand behind each of them.
As they come to fisticuffs over power, in a process that looks ever more like an absurd free-for-all, Ukrainian politicians on both sides act on the basis of the principle that the opposition has to be pressured and crushed. No matter what it takes to do so. That approach to politics began in Ukraine at least by last summer when the Orange coalition fell apart in scandal and the still unimplemented Universal of National Unity was signed. It has to be understood that the latest low point hit in Ukrainian politics brings the country cruelly nearer the point of no return, to the point at which the opponents will kill Ukrainian politics instead of imposing political death on each other. And the main players risk turning into naked emperors, who elicit laughter, pity, anger, or anything else from the voters, except confidence and respect.
Not long ago, they argued about which political force would come out on top – the Orange or Blue-and-White, that is, Yushchenko or Yanukovich. The distinguishing fact about the current showdown in Kiev is that there will be no winners or losers in it. When two forces collide with such intensity, the chances of wither of them surviving, never mind saving the nation, are nil.
Sergey Strokan
All the Article in Russian as of May 25, 2007
|
|
|
