What is the New President Up To?

By Oksana Bashuk Hepburn

 “I’ll get right to the point,” says Uncle Il’ko when I pick up the phone.  “That no good former President of theirs did her in.”

“You mean Yushchenko prevented Yulia Tymoshenko’s presidential victory, Uncle Il’ku?”

“Exactly.  What self-respecting leader would change the rules of the game – the Constitution, no less - three days before an election?  Then, tell the Ukrainians not to vote for anyone.  To undermine her, that’s why!  The rascal.”

“You’re right about that vyjku.  Many Ukrainians were very critical of this playing with the rules rather than by the rules scenario.  Other countries and international organizations like OSCE slammed Mr. Yushchenko for this.”

“Nu i scho?  So what?  The damage is done.  It certainly looks like Yushchenko got his marching orders from Moscow to ensure the former jailbird’s victory.  I don’t get it.  All this patriotic love for Ukraine – its own language, church, Hero of Ukraine awards to Stepan Bandera and Yuriy Shukhevych, the Black Sea Fleet out of Sevastopol.  Was this a charade?  A pretence?”

“As important as they are, many Ukrainians believe it was poor timing on Yushchenko’s part.”

“But of course!  It was self-serving, I tell you.  Now Yushchenko is disgraced together with the symbols he championed.  Did you get any impression of how the new President - I don’t even want to say his name - might run the country?  Were the elections clean?”

I share with Uncle Il’ko my experiences as one of Canada’s 300 election observers.  Mr. Yanukovych was born in Horlivka, abut 50 km from Donetsk.  He led about 9 to 1.  Most people there work in giant steel and coal zavody owned by Renat Akhmetov - arguably Ukraine’s richest man and owner of many employment providing enterprises - a supporter of Viktor Yanukovych.   Were people voting for him out of fear of losing their jobs?  Certainly, this issue was brought to our attention.  So were the difficulties for the other candidate, Yulia Tymoshenko.  There was pressure, we were told, not to represent her party on electoral commissions.  And talk of reprisals in tightly controlled institutions - military academy, hospitals and prisons - for not voting correctly.  We were told by two doctors belonging to Ms. Tymoshenko’s bloc that they have been threatened with job loss. 

I pause, debating whether to tell Uncle Il’ko that downtown Donetsk looks prosperous; that locals are very proud of their victorious soccer team Shakhtar and their world-class stadium built by their owner Mr. Akhmetov.  Before I can offer any of this, Uncle Il’ko speaks again.

“You know,” he says “that darn fella has an uncanny way of reinventing himself and surviving.  Imagine moving from being a thug to becoming Prime Minister.  Then, defrauding the country’s last presidential election and precipitating the Orange Revolution.  Now, he squeaks in - with 3 % - to win the Presidency.   If that Yushchenko had not undermined Yulia, she might have won.  But that’s now water under that bridge.”

“Indeed it is.  Have you heard that Mr. Yanukovych has forbidden criticisms of Mr. Yushchenko?  And that he thinks he might make a fine Prime Minister?”

“Holy Mary Mother of God!  It certainly looks like Yushchenko sold the patriotic agenda down the river.  And the good will of Poland.  Now Russia will be smirking openly.”

“It’s even worse than that, Vujku Il’ku.”

“What now?”

Like many Ukrainians, I had hoped that newly-elected President Yanukovych would reinvent himself again.  His initial steps - promises - were good: reach out to opponents; increase the standard of living; provide family allowance and health care; control corruption; and re-vamp village economy.  Those are good things for Ukraine.

“You may not have heard, Vujku, because you don’t like the Internet or TV but the President’s visit to Russia does not bode well for the future.”

There is deadly silence on the line.  I continue.

“President Yanukovych has promised to rescind the hero status for Shukhevych and Bandera and talked about the need for order.  You know, that frightening porjadok notion - the political boss, one party, and all hands up to support progress towards the Red Star mentality.”

“Shame on Yushchenko, the Trojan Horse and his cheap shots with patriotic symbols.  He used sacred values for anti-Ukrainian purposes.  Shame on Nasha Ukrajina and the other yahoos who failed to stem the disaster of a failed Orange coalition and would not stop undermining Tymoshenko’s candidacy.  She must not quit.  Go into the opposition. Regroup the dedicated deputies around her.  Build a stronger party.  It’s the only way.  I must leave this conversation now for I am very upset. Please call me tomorrow.”

“Will you be okay, Uncle Il’ko?”

“Oh yes.  But will Ukraine?”