Blogging the democratic revolution
I was starting to run out of things to post (just look below this one), but luckily, Discoshaman has made his Ukraine update for 02/06. Lots of stuff in there relevant to the new political situation.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said something funny today: “Obviously we have concerns … it is important that Russia make clear to the world that it is intent on strengthening the rule of law, strengthening the role of an independent judiciary, permitting a free and independent press,” Rice told a news conference in Warsaw, during a stopover en route to Turkey. “These are all the basics of democracy.” Drudge’s headline was even better: Rice: U.S., Europe Ready to Move On… Says Russia should respect democratic traditions… The comedy! The hilarity! Just take a look at the tradition of democracy in…
Go to anyone on my blogroll from the nearby area and you’ll see a lot of speculation over the death of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania of Georgia. I’m sure the people of Georgia are actually a lot more speculative, so the FBI will help investigate the matter.
After a day or two of silent waiting, pacing, and sweating it out… I am pleased to see another Ukraine update from Discoshaman! UPDATE: It looks like they might know who poisoned Yushchenko! Newly-appointed Minister of Internal Affairs Yuriy Lutsenko believes that the solution to the crime against Viktor Yushchenko is “totally attainable.” “We know who brought the poison across the border, which Member of Parliament accompanied it, which official brought it to the scene of the crime, and who mixed it into the food,” stated Lutsenko in an interview with journalists on Friday. He emphasized that there will be…
Neeka has got some great photos over at her blog of people standing in support of Yulia. They’ve got snow all over them; just imagine them doing that for nearly two months!
Yulia is a very popular woman today. Look at the last 20 search results that referred people here: 03 Feb, Thu, 14:58:00 Google: Publius Pundit 03 Feb, Thu, 15:40:36 Google: gyanendra dictator 04 Feb, Fri, 00:45:27 Google: Yulia Tymoshenko nude 04 Feb, Fri, 07:15:43 Google: tymoshenko pictures 04 Feb, Fri, 09:13:26 Google: ali shukri 04 Feb, Fri, 09:32:44 Google: tymoshenko pictures 04 Feb, Fri, 09:36:18 Google: Yulia Tymoshenko 04 Feb, Fri, 10:51:01 Google: Yulia Tymoshenko pictures 04 Feb, Fri, 10:54:39 Google: skarshevsky 04 Feb, Fri, 11:38:23 Yahoo: yulia tymoshenko nude 04 Feb, Fri, 11:43:55 Yahoo: Yulia Tymoshenko – photos 04…
David McDuff has posted part eleven of his series Going Back.
This whole sleep thing made me miss the initial announcement. But yesterday, she was overwhelmingly elected to the spot, which definitely bodes well for her: (AP/Sergei Grits) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Parliament unanimously approved fiery opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko as prime minister Friday, along with her government’s new program to raise living standards, tackle corruption and set Ukraine on a westward course. Lawmakers confirmed Tymoshenko in a 373-0 vote, far more than the 226 votes needed in the 450-seat Vekhovna Rada. They returned a few hours later to approve the broad outlines of her government program with a 357-0 vote.…
According to Dan McMinn, the pro-Yanukovich easterners are growing rather apathetic now. Don’t be fooled, this is great news. Before the election these people were calling Yushchenko a fascist and vowing to revolt. John over at www.postmodernclog.com has made a point to talk about how Yanukoyvch’s “opposition” has subsided into inactivity. Neeka of Neeka’s backlog has this article on the gripes of Easterners. This is great, because Yushchenko doesn’t need their heartfelt support (though it would help) his government just needs them to refrain from actively preventing their reforms. Back when Yushchenko was PM and Tymoshenko was Vice Minister of…
Kirk Sowell has two interesting posts that you need to read. The first one discusses the prospects of Ukraine membership to the EU, and why Turkey should be left out. Make sure to read the comments on it, especially the one by aussiegirl. The second post is in response to the comments.
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, who helped lead the revolution that toppled the corruption-tainted regime of Eduard Shevardnadze, was killed early Thursday by an apparent natural gas leak, the ex-Soviet republic’s interior minister said. Get everything from Neeka here. For Georgia, they have definitely lost a good man. And since he was in the midst of negotiating deals with the separatist regions like South Ossetia, how will those play out now? UPDATE: Bill has more about why Georgia matter to America at his blog. Check that out. UPDATE: My senator, John McCain, has some words on…
David McDuff has posted part ten of his series Going Back, describing his experiences and life in the Soviet Union. And a reader in Moscow emails him some comments.
Andy, who recently won first place for Best CIS Blog in the First European Weblog Awards, has his weekly Russia news roundup posted. Also, make sure to check out this other article about how millionaires in the opposition helped bring down the billionaires of the former Ukrainian regime. And how a similar event might be brewing in Russia.
Vitrenko, leader of the PSPU (“progressive socialists”), just announced that they will attempt to impeach Yushchenko by collecting signatures: According to her, Yushchenko was elected with the serious violations of the law and of European democratic standards, and thus he does not have a moral right to be a President. To speed the things up, her party is using its favourite public method: the collection of signatures. It is not clear whether the signatures collected by Vitrenko????????s party ???????against Yushchenko???????, ???????for Yanukovych???????, ???????for the referendum???????, ???????for Orthodox Christianity and the Union??????? will also be taken into account. And this is…
Via INBB, it looks like Tymoshenko is actually wiping the slate clean. No previous cabinet members or regional administers will keep their positions, and she has already tapped those that she wants for the positions. KYIV. Feb 1 (Interfax-Ukraine) – None of the members of the previous Ukrainian Cabinet of ministers or heads of regional administrations will retain their posts, acting Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said. In an interview published in the Ukrainska Pravda (Ukrainian Truth) newspaper, Tymoshenko said candidates for all Cabinet positions and heads of regional administrations have been found. “The government has been 100% formed, and…
David McDuff has posted his 8th installment of Going Back.
Discoshaman has his Ukraine update for 02/02. Yulia’s gaining steam, and the new opposition, well, isn’t really there yet.
Discoshaman already has his first Ukraine update for February up! And things are looking bright for Tymoshenko.
Discoshaman has his Ukraine update for 01/31. Read the rest too, he has some interesting thoughts going around. UPDATE: David Geisen has one too.
Andy posts an interesting article relating how revolutions that pull through usually have the help of the capital’s mayor. After observing that the Orange Revolution in Ukraine may never have happened without the support of Kiev’s mayor they go on to argue that, if Putin wants to keep his job, he really needs to keep Yuri Luzhkov, mayor of Moscow, on his side. True. And I’d venture to say, however, that in a totalitarian state as big as Russia, just about everyone Putin thinks he has under his thumb will bail on him when the going gets too rough.
Dan McMinn has two good articles up well worth reading. The first is on Yushchenko’s legacy and the other is a historical profile on Kuchma.
I hadn’t mentioned it yet give the situation in Iraq, but Yushchenko and Saakashvili were nominated by Senators McCain and Clinton for the Nobel Peace Prize. I got the info via: Blog de Connard. I found it pretty interesting though, since McCain is my senator. I checked out his website and… sure enough. I thought that was pretty cool so I sent him a little e-gram telling him how pleased I was. Here’s the letter: Dear Nominating Committee: We are writing to nominate for the Nobel Peace Prize two men who have exhibited an extraordinary commitment to peace: Georgian President…
Already, David McDuff has posted Part 7 of his Going Back series.
David McDuff has posted the next installment of his Going Back series, part six.