The 2004 presidential race in Ukraine ranks amongst the most bitter and protracted elections in recent memory. Ballot fraud, massive street demonstrations, assassination attempts and meddling superpowers – this crisis featured them all.

When Viktor Yushchenko was finally inaugurated as President on 8 January this year – still bearing facial disfigurement from the dioxin poison attack unleashed by his political rivals – there was relief that no blood had been spilt.

For several weeks, Ukraine had been poised at the brink of catastrophe. The first round of voting on 31 October incurred the condemnation of international observers for vote rigging designed to back Viktor Yanukovich, favoured by the outgoing regime to safeguard their Russian-leaning interests. However, this episode proved to be a mere portent of the coming crisis.

The 21 November run-off against Yushchenko was so marred by claim and counter-claim of electoral fraud that . . .  read »