Ukraine president claims command of troops as political tensions soar

[CHIMO]

Source: Associated Press

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine's president said he took command of 32,000 Interior Ministry troops on Friday, and a ministry official rejected the order — deepening the country's political crisis as police guarded the office of the fired prosecutor general.

The former Soviet republic edged closer toward potential violence as lawmakers and officials allied with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych called President Viktor Yushchenko's order a “putsch,” and hundreds of supporters of each of the rival politicians staged competing rallies in Kiev.

Mr. Yanukovych and Mr. Yushchenko, along with other top political leaders, met late Friday for the first time since the president fired the prosecutor general a day earlier.

Tensions between the pair have been building for weeks, and the president's move to take control over the troops, reflecting doubt on the loyalty of servicemen under the ministry's command, suggested rising concern over possible clashes.



Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070525.wukraineupdate0525/BNStory/International/home

[Hardrada]

1. This could be a bit of a sticky wicket.

[Morereason]

2. The "Orange Revolution was a NEO CON farce - summary of what is happening

This is not meant to insult those who were misinformed by the media marketing of the "Orange Revolution".

I have relatives in Ukraine. Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko (Orange "rev" leaders) are ultra nationalists. While they were claiming that the other side was rigging the vote they were doing the same and not only disinfranchised the Russian speaking half of their country, but totally tried to set in place policies that would alienate that half from their own country.

For those who have not kept up, in the second election the Russian Speaking half came out to vote in force. Then Yulia Tymoshenko (orange), who appears to be even more interested in being in a place of power than serving the nationalist movement she spearheaded, went over and joined "the blue side" as part of their voting block. (No kidding)

This all occured according to the Ukrainian constitution. But Yushchenko (Orange guy), in a move that should remind us of Bush, decided to sack the entire parliment which is an unconstitutional act. Yanukovych (blue) appealed to their supreme court. The supreme court tried to come out with the decision the sacking was unconstitutional so Yushchenko (orange) tried to sack the supreme court!

Essentially, Yuschenko has determined that he is the "Decider" and is attempting to consolidate power and disinfranchise the elected parliment.

This is threatening to turn into Civil war. Yanukovych requested the Interior Department security police block the removal of prosecutor general Svyatoslav Piskun, who Yuschenko wants sacked because he refuses to force the removal of the Supreme court Judges. Yushchenko then issued an executive order to take control of the Military (which is also against the constitution).

[gulfcoastliberal]

3. I had a feeling they were thugs.

Thanks for the information, that's really interesting. I knew there was more to the story; we should take note of this. Perhaps it's run of the neocon playbook we should make a note of. Fortunately, here the supreme court wouldn't need to be fired en masse. :sarcasm:

[Morereason]

4. ...

Bump

[TheLastMohican]

5. Well said.

I have the same kind of info.

Yushenko is abusing his presidential powers and is now trying to derail both the legislative and judicial branches of Ukrainian government.
Augusto Pinochet comes to mind.

[AX10]

6. I never liked Yushchenko. The fact that Bush has his head...

up his ass told me that there was something wrong with him. Now I know that he is a Ukrainian Neo-Con.