UKRAINE: OUTGOING PRESIDENT KUCHMA AND MAIN CONTENDERS CAST THEIR VOTES IN UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Record ID:
443037
UKRAINE: OUTGOING PRESIDENT KUCHMA AND MAIN CONTENDERS CAST THEIR VOTES IN UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
- Title: UKRAINE: OUTGOING PRESIDENT KUCHMA AND MAIN CONTENDERS CAST THEIR VOTES IN UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
- Date: 30th October 2004
- Summary: (W4) KIEV, UKRAINE (OCTOBER 31, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT LEONID KUCHMA VOTING; WITH ELECTION OFFICIALS (2 SHOTS) 0.25 2. WS: KUCHMA AND MEMBERS OF MEDIA 0.30 3. (SOUNDBITE)(Russian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT LEONID KUCHMA, SAYING: "I want to stress one more time that I voted for stability and not just voting, but I have done everything to prolong and continue the stability (in Ukraine)." 0.50 4. WS: EXTERIOR POLLING STATION 0.57 (U3) KIEV, UKRAINE (OCTOBER 31, 2004) (REUTERS) 5. UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VIKTOR YANUKOVICH WALKING OUT OF BOOTH AND VOTING 1.05 6. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VIKTOR YANUKOVICH, SAYING: "I voted for the future of Ukraine because I think that we must guarantee the future for our children and this future must be in safe hands." 1.20 7. JOURNALISTS 1.24 8. EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION 1.32 (U3) KIEV, UKRAINE (OCTOBER 31, 2004) (REUTERS) 9. VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO, MAIN OPPOSITION CHALLENGER IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION VOTING; MEDIA (2 SHOTS) 1.45 10. WS: YUSHCHENKO SURROUNDED BY MEMBERS OF MEDIA 1.48 11. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO, MAIN OPPOSITION CHALLENGER AND LIBERAL CANDIDATE SAYING: "I want to live in a proper country where the leaders are honest, where people are not afraid of their leadership but respect them. I want to live in the country where the journalists are not intimidated; I want to live in the country where the human rights and laws are respected, where there exists an honest judicial structure; I do not want my children to know what a criminal government means and what does the shadow economy means and (what is the meaning of) authorities who are unable to protect the national interests of the country." 2.36 12. YUSHCHENKO WALKING OUT OF BUILDING WITH CHILD IN HIS ARMS TO BE GREETED BY MEMBERS OF MEDIA AND REPORTERS 3.02 (U3) GORLOVKA, UKRAINE (OCTOBER 31, 2004) (REUTERS) 13. GV: "LENIN" MINE WORKS 3.09 (U3) DONETSK, UKRAINE (OCTOBER 30, 2004) (REUTERS) 14. VARIOUS OF MINERS COMING UP FROM MINE; HANDING IN EQUIPMENT (3 SHOTS) 3.27 15. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) MINER SAYS: "I will vote for Yanukovich", AND TURNS AWAY FROM CAMERA 3.30 (U3) GORLOVKA, UKRAINE (OCTOBER 31, 2004) (REUTERS) 16. WS: EXTERIOR POLLING STATION IN "LENIN" MINE 3.38 17. VOTERS REGISTERING IN POLLING STATION 3.43 18. ELDERLY WOMAN ENTERS BOOTH TO VOTE 3.46 19. ELDERLY WOMAN LEAVES BOOTH 3.51 20. SV/CU: MAN WALKS UP TO BALLOT BOXES, CASTS VOTE (2 SHOTS) 4.01 21. SCU; BALLOT BOXES 4.06 22. PEOPLE WALKING DOWN STREET, MAN SAYS "For Yanukovich" 4.11 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 14th November 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KIEV,GORLOVKA,DONETSK, UKRAINE
- Country: Ukraine
- Reuters ID: LVAE0198HCU5DRSSJPKRR0B2SU6E
- Story Text: Ukrainian president and main contenders in
presidential election vote as some in the Donetsk mining
area say they will support Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich.
Outgoing Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma voted in
presidential elections on Sunday (October 31). It is a
contest set to determine whether the ex-Soviet state
intensifies traditional links with Moscow or begins looking
towards the West.
The election is tantamount to a referendum on the
decade in office of Kuchma, who is backing his prime
minister, Viktor Yanukovich.
Kuchma said he was casting a vote for stability. "I
want to stress one more time that I voted for stability and
not just voting, but I have done everything to prolong and
continue the stability (in Ukraine), the outgoing president
said.
Though it cast off Soviet rule 13 years ago, Ukraine
remained subject to heavy Russian influence in the
campaign. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin visited Kiev in its
final stages and endorsed the premier's record of high
economic growth.
Yanukovich was among many early voters in Kiev.
"I voted for the future of Ukraine because I think that
we must guarantee the future for our children and this
future must be in safe hands," Yanukovich said after
casting his ballot.
Of the 24 candidates running for the presidency,
Yanukovich and his main challenger the Western-leaning
liberal Viktor Yushchenko, are expected to go through to a
second round of voting on November 21.
With the two rivals even in opinion surveys, neither
was likely to get the 50 percent needed for a first-round
victory.
Yanukovich stands for closer integration with Moscow
and the solid economic growth posted under his stewardship
was endorsed this week by visiting Russian President
Vladimir Putin.
Yushchenko accuses authorities of plotting to rig the
election to secure victory for the prime minister. He has
charged Kuchma's team of plundering Ukraine in the
interests of business clans and wants to move gradually
closer to the West.
Yushchenko told reporters after he cast his vote in
Kiev: "I want to live in a proper country where the leaders
are honest, where people are not afraid of their leadership
but respect them. I want to live in the country where the
journalists are not intimidated; I want to live in the
country where the human rights and laws are respected,
where there exists an honest judicial structure; I do not
want my children to know what a criminal government means
and what does the shadow economy means and (what is the
meaning of) authorities who are unable to protect the
national interests of the country."
In the coal mining region of Donetsk, Yanukovich
appeared to be the most popular choice for the presidency.
He was governor of the region until his appointment as
prime minister in 2002.
The prime minister's stewardship of the economy in the
last two years has persuaded voters in the area, lacking
investment since the collapse Soviet Union, that he will be
the right choice.
Polling stations for 37 million eligible voters remain
open until 8 p.m. (1800 GMT). Results of an exit poll will
be announced soon after, with returns coming in overnight.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None