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From The Sunday Times
November 28, 2004

Russia ‘will back force’ by Ukraine president

Askold Krushelnycky and Mark Franchetti.

RUSSIA has offered to back the Ukrainian government if it uses force to crush pro-democracy demonstrators who have taken control of the capital and other cities, it was claimed last night.

A senior figure in the Ukrainian presidential administration who declined to be identified said that Boris Gryzlov, President Vladimir Putin’s personal envoy to Ukraine, had promised “diplomatic cover” against any international backlash prompted by such a move.

The source emphasised, however, that the pledge had been given at the beginning of escalating protests prompted by last Sunday’s elections that handed the presidency to Viktor Yanukovych, the prime minister.

The poll was condemned by international observers as a sham and supporters of Viktor Yushchenko, the opposition candidate, took to the streets.

Details of the pledge emerged as the Ukrainian parliament yesterday declared the presidential poll to be invalid. Parliament has no legal authority to annul the results but the declaration gave a political boost to the opposition.

As the session opened, 100,000 of Yushchenko’s supporters wearing scarves, hats and ribbons in his campaign’s orange colours gathered outside parliament.

The Supreme Court is due tomorrow to examine Yushchenko’s complaints of widespread irregularities.





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