Just what we needed -- more depressing news. Incidentally, a lot of the background on this comes from an excellent paper written by one of this spring's graduating MBA students.
Earlier this year, the Ukrainian Orange Revolution gave us hope that not all of the former USSR was doomed to eternal corruption and tyranny (the Baltics excepted). A reform cadidate, Viktor Yushchenko, survived attempted poisoning and one rigged election to become the democratically elected president of Ukraine. (map and information) Yushchenko rose to power in part because he was seen to be highly competent -- his background was in finance and banking, and people believed that he could put the government's financial house in order and begin to eliminate corruption. In addition, Yushchnko was a good-looking, charismatic speaker (his present appearance owes a lot to the dioxin poisoning).
Fast-forward from January to September. The financial and corruption issues haven't really been addressed; according to the BBC, "infighting" among the Yushchenko administration has taken precedence over getting things done. So, yesterday, Yushchenko cleaned house; chief among the cleanees was Yulia Tymoshenko, the prime minister (head of state). Did Yushchenko want to get to work without political conflict among his top advisors? Did he want to dispose of a potential threat to his power? It's worth noting that Tymoshenko has been urged to form an opposition party or bloc. The defeated candidate for president, Viktor Yanukovich, is returing to Kiev and has "hinted he may cooperate with sacked PM Yulia Tymoshenko." Now, if you really want to go in for conspiracy theories, read this article from Pravda......
For complete coverage of this story and some background, see:
Ukraine President Sacks his Cabinet
Orange Revolution in Turmoil
Putin Still Bitter over Orange Revolution
Ukraine: Why The Road West Will Be Rocky
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