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."
Voters queue outside the Ukrainian Embassy in London.
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.

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.
Voters make their way into the Ukrainian Embassy in London.
A slight drizzle didn't deter people coming to vote.
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.
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.
Voters show their true colours.
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.