BRAMA, Nov 24, 2004, 1:00 am ET
Villanous Viktor un-Vanted in UK
Stepan Shtohryn, 49, from Lviv, now living in south London and working as a builder. He voted for Yushchenko. "I am sure good will triumph over evil."
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Voters queue outside the Ukrainian Embassy in London.
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Laura and her husband Christopher Brown making the British public aware of what's happening in Ukraine. They are standing outside the Ukrainian Catholic University, a few minutes walk from the Embassy. Laura's originally from West Virginia, USA, but now lives in north west London. Her great grandmother came from Ukraine.
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If Viktor Yanukovich is confirmed President of Ukraine, he will not find
many friends in Great Britain.
He was dealt a crushing blow at Sunday's runoff elections, with voters in
England and Scotland giving his opponent Viktor Yushchenko 95.26% of the
vote at the Ukrainian Embassy in London and 90.9% at the Ukrainian Consulate
in Edinburgh.
Of the 2,453 registered to vote in England, 1,560 voted, of which 1,486
supported Yushchenko, and 63 (4.04%) cast their votes to Yanukovich.
In Scotland, 122 people registered, 70 voted, of which 70 supported
Yushchenko, and only six (7.8%) opted for Yanukovich.
Some voted for neither candidate at both ballot stations.
Taras Chaban, co-ordinator of Polling Stations Abroad (UK branch), which
monitored the elections and whose team helped count the votes, said he was
happy with the electoral process, adding that by 2pm 750 people had already
voted compared to 450 at the same time during the first round.
Ukraine's ambassador to Britain, Ihor O Mitiukov, said he would not be
voting for the same person as he did in the first round because his
candidate didn't make it to the second round. He was not prepared to reveal
who his preferred candidate was except to say that he expected his wife to
vote the same way as him.
Asked about his own position after the election, Mr Mitiukov said he
believed the new president would concentrate on forming a new government
first before turning his attention to the diplomatic corps. "I am sure there
will be some serious changes," he said.
Stepan Shtohryn, 49, builder from Lviv, now living in south London, said: "I
voted for Viktor Yushchenko because I believe in democracy and in the future
of Ukraine. Many of my friends have come to vote and I am sure that he will
win - good will overcome evil."
Mychaylo Tyzelyak, 40, teacher in Ivano Frankivsk, now living in Sutton,
working as a builder, said: "We have to fight against the Communist system
which has ruled us for many years." It took him a three-hour bus journey to
get to the Embassy.
Yuriy Nepyyvoda, 25, from Kolomyia, a student now working here as a computer
engineeer, said: "I voted for Yushchenko because I am looking for a reliable
and truthful person." His wife Lyudmyla, 24, who works in accounts, shared
her husband's sentiments.
Vera Kaprocka, 62, from Peterborough, originally from Ternopil region said
she'd voted for Yushchenko because he is a Ukrainian. "And what kind of
example would we give to our children if we elect somebody who can steal and
beat up people."
Laura Brown, 29, who works for a mortgage company, was standing outside the
Ukrainian Catholic University, close to the Ukrainian Embassy, with a large
placard which read: "Ukraine's Problem Is Europe's Problem".
She and her husband Christopher were informing the British public about the
election, including the arrests of political activists and censorship of the
media. "We are trying to encourage more European Union involvement with
Ukraine."
Laura said she was an American from West Virginia, now living in London,
though her great grandmother came from Ukraine.
Her prediction on the election: "Yanukovich will win one way or another. I
think they determined that before people came out to vote. I don't know what
will happen after that - hopefully nothing violent."
London Election Results:
Дільниця № 13 в Лондоні, Велика Британія
Отримано бюлетенів: 3000
Зареєстровано на списку: 2453
Проголосувало: 1560
Ющенко: 1486 (95.26%)
Янукович: 63 (4.04%)
Проти всіх: 9 (0.58%)
Недійсні бюлетені: 2
Дільниця № 14 в Едінбурзі, Велика Британія
Зареєстровано на списку: 122
Проголосувало: 77
Ющенко: 70 (90.9%)
Янукович: 6 (7.8%)
Проти всіх: 1
A group of Ukrainian stand outside the Ukrainian Association Club in 154 Holland Park Avenue, going in for a drink having voted. The club is less than 10 minutes walk from the Ukrainian Embassy in leafy west London's Holland Park.
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Voters make their way into the Ukrainian Embassy in London.
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A slight drizzle didn't deter people coming to vote.
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Yuriy Nepyyvoda, 25, a student from Kolomyia, now working in London as a computer engineeer, with his wife Lyudmyla, 24, who works in accounts. Both voted for Yushchenko and were confident he would win.
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Ukraine's ambassador to London Ihor O Mitiukov admitted that he didn't vote for either of the two candidates in the first round, but wouldn't say who he was voting for this time. The candidate he voted for last time didn't make it to the second round.
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Voters show their true colours.
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Vera Kaprocka from Peterborough - a town outside of London, pictured right with her friends. Vera was not prepared to vote for "an ex-convict". She voted for Viktor 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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