UKRAINE: Polls open in Presidential run-off election as Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko votes

Record ID: 731193

  • Title: UKRAINE: Polls open in Presidential run-off election as Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko votes
  • Date: 8th February 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, YULIA TYMOSHENKO, SAYING: "Good morning to all of you. I congratulate you all with this celebration of democracy, it is the day when people can express their will freely and to build a happy future for their country. I have just voted for a new Ukraine, a Ukraine that is happy and wealthy, beautiful and European." WIDE OF POLLING STATION TYMOSHENKO, HER HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER LEAVING POLLING STATION
  • Embargoed: 23rd February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAD8WA390S0KZJNCSOM8DMAOC64
  • Story Text: Polling stations open in Ukraine in a close fought presidential run-off that could disappoint hopes of a quick return to stability in the former Soviet republic.
    Ukrainians voted on Sunday (February 7) for a new president in a run-off between Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich which could bring a new bout of instability to the country.
    Analysts see a narrow Yanukovich victory but Tymoshenko has threatened to call for protests in a replay of the 2004 "Orange Revolution" if she deems the vote unfair.
    A decisive outcome should reset the ex-Soviet republic's relations Russia, which plummeted under pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko, and decide the speed of Ukraine's path into the European mainstream.
    Challenges to the result will further hurt confidence in the crisis-hit economy and may delay talks with the International Monetary Fund, which suspended its $16.4 billion bailout plan on broken promises to control state spending.
    The euphoria of 2004, when protests overturned the rigged results that gave Yanukovich victory, has disappeared after years of rowing amongst the political elite that has paralysed policy-making.
    "I voted for Yulia Vladimirovna Tymoshenko. I follow her activity both from Canada when I live there and here and I know she is a woman who can become a president and can lead Ukraine out of this chaos," said Yury Lastinyak, a pensioner living in canada, who returned especially to vote.
    "I voted for Yanukovich. I expect from this election stability and normal economic development, and no more lies from politicians," said another voter, Alexander Shutov, a Kiev resident, said.
    A tired-looking Tymoshenko cast her vote early in her home city of Dnipropetrovsk.
    "I have just voted for a new Ukraine, a Ukraine that is happy and wealthy, beautiful and European," she said after casting her ballot.
    A close result challenged in court will only prolong instability in the country of 46 million people. Both candidates say they want to integrate with Europe while improving ties with Moscow, though Tymoshenko is seen as more enthusiastic about the EU.
    Votingat 8.00 p.m. (1800 GMT), and exit polls are expected to follow swiftly. OSCE observers will present their findings on Monday.
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