Yushchenko Slammed By Russian Parliament

MOSCOW, Russia -- Russia’s lower house of parliament on Friday slammed Ukraine’s pro-western president, Viktor Yushchenko, taking sides in a constitutional clash over early elections with Kiev’s Moscow-friendly prime minister, Viktor Yanukovich.

Russian State Duma
The sharp criticism raised concern in Kiev that Moscow could once again interfere in domestic Ukrainian politics as it did during the tense days of the Orange Revolution that brought Mr Yushchenko to power in December 2004.

The Russian Duma overwhelmingly backed a resolution that called Mr Yushchenko’s April 2 decree disbanding the Ukrainian parliament “unconstitutional”.

The Duma expressed serious concerns over attempts to resolve a political crisis by “dissolving a legally elected parliament”.

Kiev’s pro-western president has repeatedly defended his decision as necessary to thwart unconstitutional attempts by Mr Yanukovich’s governing coalition to monopolise power.

But the defiant premier has refused to recognise the decree.

The dispute between the two men has plunged Ukraine into its worst political crisis since the Orange Revolution.

The Duma’s harsh words are expected to further polarize Ukraine’s political leaders and voters, who already deeply divided by the crisis.

Repeat elections threaten to oust the governing coalition of Mr Yanukovich, backed by a majority of legislators in parliament.

Elections are scheduled for May 27, but an appeal to Ukraine’s constitutional court by allies of Mr Yanukovich threatens to call them off.

The daring move to disband parliament is destabilizing Ukraine “with each day,” the Duma resolution said.

Gennadiy Udovenko, a Yushchenko ally and former foreign minister, struck back accusing Russian legislators of “interfering in domestic affairs.”

But Oleg Morozov, the Russian Duma’s first deputy speaker, said the Duma was not planning to send any kind of official delegation to Kiev.

Following his embarrassing intervention in the 2004 presidential elections, when President Vladimir Putin twice congratulated Mr Yanukovich on his supposed victory in the disputed poll, the Kremlin has so far refrained from comment.

But relations between the two countries have been strained since the Orange Revolution propelled Mr Yushchenko to power over Mr Yanukovich, the Moscow-backed candidate.

Mr Yushchenko’s rise to power was a setback for Moscow, which has aimed to keep a strong grip over business and energy assets in Ukraine, a key transit route for Russian natural gas and oil to Europe.

Ukraine’s two leaders have been locked in a wrestling-match for authority ever since Mr Yanukovich returned as prime minister last summer after the inconclusive results of parliamentary elections held in March 2006.

Mr Yanukovich has systematically muscled authority away from the Ukrainian president, leaving him largely marginalised.

Source: The Financial Times