There is little doubt that Timoshenko will not allow power to pass to Yanukovich. She is doing the usual western trick of accusing him of exactly what she will do herself to secure power. There is no mature democratic process to fall back on in Ukraine. This is a power struggle of immense proportions in a a country ill equiped to handle it. A country that is under the US washington tight grip. Russia is quite rightly taking a back seat in this potentially explosive situation. Many are talking of an election, however, the wise ones know that what happens immediately after the election will seal Ukraines fate. That trajectory at present has many options that seem equally weighted, ranging from a realisation that Ukraine better accept a result and work together, to an all out civil war, with variations in between. Russia will take a wait and see on this one, trying at all times to secure the most positive outcome for all the brotherhood of people.

The woman has positively gone mad! She is the one who defied the Parliament, and reinstalled the fired Interior Minister in an alternative position, giving him the power to do some head busting! He and his "forces" attacked Printing Plant were the ballots are being printed, in order to install --- mind you illegally --- her own director! The court ordered her to pull her fangs, and the lawfull director was reinstalled --- but not in time to give her director a chance to print a gread deal of ballots for stuffing! She is the one complaining about the opposition candidate trying to steal election? And who ordered thousands of Georgian "observers" into the country illigally? I bet it was not Yanukovich! So, while she openly invaded the printing press, took it over for just long enough to print hundreds of thousands of ballots, she claims that the opposition is doing it! While she evidently illegally brought into the country Georgian "observers", plane loads of shady characters, she is claiming that the opposition is doing just that. And only tyrants declare themselves fit for the leadership. The others are not Ukrainians at all! She is not mad. Just counting on Western press to give her the boost, so that the victory by Yanukovic will immediately be attacked. It has already happened in Iran and Afghanistan, where the incumbents were never in a danger to loosing to the opposition. But by repeatedly organizing strife and claiming "fraud" by the winner, the elections are instantly put into the question. Average reader in the West -- and perhaps elsewhere as well --- do not bother to check into the reality. This is what she is aiming at. But I have to admit, I did not expect her to resort to such tactics, and to deny the opponent even the legitimacy of running. He is treated as an alien creature that needs to be expelled from the Ukrainian body. Her rethoric is SCARY!

I am finally starting to understand the stridency of behavior that one finds in Ukraine. I often read Kyiv Post, and always read people's comments. This is a way to sample opinions, and more importantly, the language used by ordinary readers. What struck me as unusual is the boastfull self-righteous language of the nationalism. In it, there is always a not-so-hidden dismissive tone of "others". It appears, after all, that Ukraine is an artificial country. How to please those who are blind with nationalism, blind with hate for those "others", while indulging in the self-righeous victimhood during Soviet times. It seems that no matter what crimes were committed by the nationalists against their fellow-citizens, all is to be excused. With the power of hind-sight, they explain away everything by being the victim of Soviet Union. In this climate, Tymoshenko tried at first to win over Yanukovich votes. The effort may not have brought fruit, so now she has switched 180 degrees. Now, she does not care any more about those voters. She is aiming to mobilize all the nationalists from the loosing candidates voters. Ukraine itself is in danger! I presume "their" Ukraine. If this keeps up, Ukraine will go down hill. Tymoshenko apparently does not care. Instead of staying unified, get the incompetents out of running economy, restoring agricuture and industry, and restoring the energy hub reputation --- Ukraine may end up being finally marginalized as a country. It may end up technically one country, but split in two irreconcileable camps. The question arises if it may be better for Ukraine to split like Czechoslovakia. Peacefully. That way, both can have their own visions of future, their own strategy for the economy, and may the luck be with both of them. As it stands now, they cannot agree on anything at all. It may be sad, but a good divorce is better for the children then a violent marriage.

Now, this explains why there was basically NO news about the first round of election in the EU press! This make sense, as they were monitored as "fair and legal". Therefore now the Western press can start to beat the drum as usual (in the western interest, of course!). Great marketing guys working out there. I hope this will not happen the way they planned it, but that backfires on the perpetrators.

Opinions are like noses, everybody has one

If mentioned solution is to call for divorce like Checks and Slovaks did – then the ultimate meaning is the separation between two different identities. However it is about time to note that both identities are not the only subjects and therefore the divorce won’t match the case. Russia, Ukraine, Balkans, Check and Slovaks etc… all Eastern Europeans actually do not openly locate the Jewish identity being the dominant media owner, constituent and political broker? Going on this way definitely leads to future aggravation and wastage of the present political energy, which is a limited opportunity in any historical span of time. Meaning – we may lose the chance to talk and got divorced just on account of the children.

Here is how I see the outcome and the future for Ukraine: Yanukovich will win the second round. As a result, there will be unrest in Western Ukraine and attempts to destabilize the country in general. East and South will not take it any more. Yanukovich has a weakness, he caves in under too much pressure, but this time he will have so much popular support,from East and South, that he will hold on. The wild card is Timoshenko. In order to appease her, Yanukovich may try to form some kind of alliance with her, however improbable. The country will continue half-functioning. Ukraine consists of at least four, or five distinct parts, differring in customs, aspirations. The productive south and industrial east want to be with Russia, agricultural west , and partly center/north want Europe. However, they have very little to offer to Europe and it cannot burden itself with territory so vast and disfunctional. Europe also cannot afford to keep annoying Russia. Despite this impossiblity, west and center, who are not self-sustaining economically are still dreaming of joining EU, as Germany and others foot the bill. These people will side with forces in the US, who would love to destabilize Russian south. And the nearby Georgia would be glad to oblige. In longer-term perspective, due to conflicting aspirations of south/east and west/center, the split of the country is probable, despite the fact that strangely Ukrainains do percieve themselves as one nation, except Crimea and the Black Sea area, Odessa, etc, never Ukrainian to begin with, but lumped with it due to geograhical expedience. I believe Ukaine will eventually split in two parts, but it may take years. Yanukovich will fail t reconcile irreconcilable and western Ukraine will split off. Yulia's pronounemens show how gloves off the situation is. Splitting off is the only healthy way out, but it won't be as peaceful, as many of us hope.