BRAMA, Nov 2, 2004, 9:00 am ET
Britain votes for Yushchenko
Ukrainians wait patiently in line to vote outside the Embassy in London.
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Ukrainians in Britain have backed Viktor Yushchenko by a massive 89.85% in
Sunday's presidential elections.
They polled 788 votes for Yushchenko, 41 votes (4.68%) for Viktor
Yanukovich, while Sergei Komissarenko, Ukraine's first ambassador to Britain
following independence got a paltry 9 votes (1.03%).
Of the 1,642 registered voters, 877 actually voted.
Ukraine's current ambassador to Britain, Ihor O Mitiukov, was pleased with
the day's proceedings and said he was aware of the various difficulties
which had perhaps prevented more people from coming to vote.
Mr Mitiukov was Minister of Finance for Ukraine between 1997-2001, during
which time there were two prime-ministers - Pustovoitenko and Yushchenko.
Although he was not prepared to say who he voted for, Mr Mitiukov did not
rule out the possibility that perhaps in the future he might once again
serve in a Yushchenko government.
Among voters who were more candid over who they voted for were Oleksandr
Pochkun, a 22-year-old student from Sumy in Eastern Ukraine, who voted for
Yushchenko. "I'm expecting him to win, otherwise I wouldn't have come here,"
he said.
Studying here for a year and a half, Mr Pochkun said that only one of his
friends had come to vote. Many Ukrainians who were here illegally were not
aware that they could still vote, even if their visas had expired.
Oksana Kuzmenko, a 37-year-old pharmacist on holiday with her husband
Anatoliy from Cherkassy, said: "I voted for Yushchenko because he is the
only politician who can do something for Ukraine. Although a lot of people
will vote for him I fear that the elections will be falsified," she said.
Bohdan Shkarupa, a 32-year-old accountant from Vynnitsyia, also voted for
Yushchenko. He also feared the election would be rigged. "The USA will not
recognise it and there will be more elections," he added.
Taras Chaban, co-ordinator of Polling Stations Abroad (UK branch), which
monitored the elections and helped count the votes, said he was confident
that more people would register for the final poll on November 21.
Getting the ballot paper to vote - Ukrainian ambassador to Britain, Ihor O Mitiukov.
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Ambassador Ihor O Mitiukov casts his votes in the opulent surroundings of his Embassy.
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Oksana Kuzmenko and her husband Anatoliy from Cherkassy take a break from their holiday in England to vote for presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko.
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Bohdan Shkarupa, a 32-year-old accountant from Vinnytsia, votes for Yushchenko.
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* * * * *
Tony Leliw is a London-based journalist whose articles have appeared in respected publications such as the London Evening Standard and The Times, as well as news services in Ukraine and the U.S.
Feature stories by Mr. Leliw that have been published on Brama include :
Oct 13 05 - From War to Westminster by Stefan Terlezki CBE. Book review by Tony Leliw
Dec 1 04 - Ukrainians color London blue, yellow - and orange
Nov 24 04 - Villanous Viktor un-Vanted in UK
Nov 2 04 - Britain votes for Yushchenko
Oct 11 04 - Polling station coordinator works to simplify constitutional obstacles for voters abroad
Jul 16 04 - 'Madam Hooch' rides her broomstick in from Odesa: Actress Zoë Wanamaker offers a glimpse into her family history
Jun 7 04 - British 'heavyweight' weighs in on Ukraine elections
Mar 22 04 - If you were an oligarch ...
Mar 7 04 - Why you'll never find all the eggs in one basket
Dec 3 03 - On His Majesty's Secret Service
Oct 1 03 - Vilified, slandered and abused for telling the truth about Communism
Jul 30 03 - Malcolm Muggeridge Centenary: the journalist who reported that more than 7 million starved to death in Ukraine
Mar 24 03 - Christian fundamentalism and corruption: a member of the British House of Lords offers her views on the Iraq war and Ukraine
May 27 03 - Voting, for a song
Jan 1 03 - The road from Ukraine to Westminster and back
Email: tony@youwhat.fsnet.co.uk
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