I know, weird topic, but I live next door to the Consulate of the Ukraine and Belarus. Over the weekend there were elections in the Ukraine and the ruling party won, but amid some controversy. Today, supporters of the opposition have stages a demonstration in front of the consulate, chanting for Y---chenko(forget how to spell his name) and singing what sounds like a national anthem, very fascinating to watch.

Do we as citizens demonstrate like this after an election?

It's interesting how the demonstrators jeer and boo the males leaving the building, but the women and children returning to the building are allowed to pass in silence, or at least no jeering.

helicopters are now circling and the police have moved the demonstrators from one sidewalk across the street to the sidewalk in front of hte consulate. cars are allowed to pass behind a line of riot police officers, slowly. lots of cameras, I'm missingsomething gotta go.

seems to be quietening down, but watching it was rather moving, reinforcing the beauty and priviledge of our right to demonstrate. just fascinating. more jeers, wonder how long this will go on.

[ November 23, 2004, 09:47 AM: Message edited by: shore ]

Viktor Yanukovich pro-Russia declared winner
Viktor Yushchenko opposition leader

It is a bit confusing because their names are similar. From what I've heard on the news, the western part of Ukraine, which includes Kiev, is pro Y-chenko. It is predominately Catholic and is more prosperous & economically diverse. The eastern half, which is pro Y-kovich, is mainly Russian/Ukrainian Orthodox and is the relatively poorer mining region. An American involved in overseeing the elections stated he observed ballot box stuffing. A comparison to the Rose Revolution in Georgia last year was made in this broadcast. Eventually the pro-Russian leader Shevardnadze stepped down in favor of the American-educated Mikhail Saakashvili after mass protests. I think the Ukrainians are following what was done in Georgia.

Also, I do recall there were protests in Seattle and/or Portland after our elections, but nothing on this scale.

The demonstrations are over, lasting only an hour, probably by city permit. Everyone disperse in a nice manner. Now though, the police, which is also on this street right across from the consulate, has closed the street to everyone but residents and workers with ID. Makes no sense though because traffic is still allowed down the street.

It's very interesting to watch the demonstrations, to think about what they mean to the people invovled, how much it means to the people involved.

CNN Update

From CNN:

Hummm...now that we've brought up voter fraud, Mr. Zero Credibility, can we discuss Florida?

Link forthcoming... CNN Story

[ November 24, 2004, 10:22 AM: Message edited by: bobby78751 ]

I saw a picture online of a nighttime demonstration in Kiev. The major downtown square, Independence Square, surrounded by buildings in that glorious Federalist style, was filled with thousands and thousands of demonstrators. It was probably on the BBC website.

Ukraine on brink of 'civil war'

Protesters' cold vigil continues

Pictures. No one can accuse Yushchenko of using Botox.

I'd love to tune in on the shortwave, but the problem is that the one international broadcaster in what is left of the old Soviet Union is the Voice of Russia. It will say whatever Putin tells it to say. There is no other voice.

Thanks Bobby, I was going to say "Pot, meet Kettle..."

Also, much of it used to be Polish territory (before both of Poland's borders were shifted westward at the end of World War II), and before that part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (the least oppressive of the three empires that carved up Poland in the late 1700s).

The prevailing spin on the election and its aftermath is that Yuschenko leans toward Western democracy in general and the EU in particular (altough Ukraine is a long way from being ready to join), and Yanukovich leans toward Russia and the increasingly autocratic Putin, who has backed off from overt support only because he needs Western trade and (to a lesser extent now) aid to stay afloat.

So far this is playing out more like the fall of the Wall and the Iron Curtain than like Tiananmen or the Prague Spring ... but the neo-commissars are still firmly entrenched in Belarus and elsewhere, so don't uncork the champagne just yet. eek!