Ukraine Today - An Independent Political Review

Exit Polls place United Russia with 49.99% of the overall vote followed by the Communist Party on 19.32%, Fair Russia on 12.99% and Libdems on 11.78%.  The remaining patrties representing 5.9% fell below the 7% representation threshold. When translated into Russian Duma seats in the  United Russia Party lead by Vladamir Putin is expected to win just over 53.% of the seats. Russia goes to the polls again in 2012 to elect its President. Vladimir Putin who has a higher personal vote is expected to win in first round of voting. Party Vote% Seats% Seats United Russia 49.97% 53.13%          239 Fair Russia 12.99% 13.81%            62 Libdems 11.78% 12.52%            56 Communist Party 19.32% 20.54%            92...

The reintroduction of MMP single member electorates and changes to the representation threshold will see Party of Regions win a majority of seats in the new parliament. Based on analysis of the 2010 Presidential District vote and the 5% representation threshold. Party of Regions with the support of Sergei Tigipko's 'Strong Ukraine' is expected to win 120 Single member 'first-past-the-post' electorates plus 127 'Party list' national votes Party Seats Vote% Seats% PoR 93 35.33% 41.15% BYuT 66 25.05% 29.18% SU 34 13.06% 15.21% Y-Front 18 6.96% 8.11% YOU 14 5.46% 6.36%     An estimated 25% of voters who support minor parties are likely to be disenfranchised. Armed with the fact the minor party vote will be wasted this will most likely bolstering further the number of seats likely to be won by Party of Regions and Strong Ukraine. The number of Party of Reg...

The table below shows the running results of the district vote for the 1st and 2nd rounds 2010 Presidential vote. It is useful in analyzing the  possible outcome of the 225 district single member first-past-the-post' electorates.   Any percentage above 50% means the party is under represented, those with less than 50% are over represented.  A comparison to the 2nd Round vote shows the winner of the district vote had there been only two candidates Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko (BYuT) or Party of Regions (PoR) running. The 1st round results show it is possible to win a district vote , under a first-past-the-post voting system where the highest vote wins the seat, with less than 30% of the vote. There are 86 districts that show 50% or more support and a staggering 140 seats ( includes the foreign mission vote as the 226 seat ) that are determined by less than an absolute majority.  Five seats swung from BYuT to PoR or visa-versa between the first round and second round...

Ukraine's Ombdusman, Nina Karpachova, whilst making a announced visit to Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine's former Prime-minister who is being held in jail, has re ported that Tymnoshenko is gravely ill and needs urgent medical treatment outside of the jail. The assessment of the Ombudsman is contrary to thr infornation provided by jail officals last week. Tymoshenko has been jailed following a complaint made against her by Vikttor Yushchenko back in 2009. Tymoshenko was found guility of having misused and abused her public office in signing an agreement with Russia to supply Ukraine gas. The allegations against Tymoshenko and other members of teh oppsoiton parties are seen to be potitcaly motivated.  Tymoshenko has appelased agsint her convcition and the appral is scheduled to be heard next month. There are calls for Tyshmeochnko to be released or plavced under hoiuyse arrest pending the outcome of her appeal. Earlier on the authorities claimed that Tymoshenko health was sa...

By: Taras Kuzio Former President Viktor Yushchenko is an important, but underestimated, aspect of the sentencing of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko to seven years imprisonment and a three-year ban from government work. Our Ukraine honorary chairman Yushchenko’s support for the sentence was in contradiction with the Our Ukraine political party, which condemned it as a return to authoritarianism. Every other opposition political party condemned the sentence. Party of Regions deputy Taras Chornovil said in a recent interview with Radio Svoboda that “Yushchenko was the only well-known public person in Ukraine who supported the sentence.” Yushchenko was the only person who “applauded and said that he supported it and was satisfied with it” In interviews given to the BBC Ukrainian service on Oct. 12 and Der Spiegel on Oct. 18, Yushchenko publicly supported Tymoshenko’s sentence. Speaking on Inter television channel on Oct. 23, Yushchenko stated his opposition to the d...

Preliminary Report on the investigations against Yulia Tymoshenko in November 2011. This report has the purpose of describing and analyzing the actual legal situation of Mrs. Tymoshenko as of the beginning of November 2011 and to compare it with the obligations of Ukraine as a party to the European Convention on Human Rights. It has not been the purpose of the monitoring to take side in the question of guilt or innocence; Human Rights are for the guilty as well as for the innocent. Copy of report (pdf)