Posted by John Harbar on April 21, 2004 at 14:13:43:
The elections in Mukachevo are very dis-heartening, but not very surprising. The corruption in Ukraine is so severe, I doubt any of its citizens are shocked by any attacks on their freedoms. What is most discouraging is what the elections may allow to happen down the road. If Nuser is allowed to stay in office, this will either discourage voter turn-out for presidential elections, or hopefully bring out an overwhelming majority for the patriot Yuschenko. Resolution of this matter is then key to the on-going struggle for the presidency, and the eventual future of Ukraine as a European brother with freedom, or re-integration into Russian rule via the common economic space, and a rule that would be just as suffocating and oppressive as the old Soviet rule.